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KICHTEENTH ANNTAI, IlErmiT 



BUREAU OF A31EIUCAN ETHNOLOGY 



SECKKTAItV OU Till-: SMUrHSOMA.N LNSTUITTlON 



1 8i» <)-'.> 



DIRECTOR 



IIsT TAVO PARTrS-PART 1 




WASHINGTON 

GO VKllMMENT PRINTINO OJ'FlCi; 
18 9 9 



CO. MEATS 



REPOWT OF THE DIREf'TOK 

Introiliiction xx\' 

Field researcli and exploration \xvii 

Oflior roseanh xxx 

Work in csthetology xxx 

Work in technology xxxi\- 

Work in sociology xxxix 

Work in philology x i.i 

Work in sopliiology XLiv 

Descriiitive ethnology XLV 

bibliography XLVi 

Collecting xi.m 

Publication \i.\ in 

Miscollaneons xi.ix 

Financial statement I. 

Characterization of accompanying papers l.l 

Subjects treated LI 

The Eskimo about Hering strait LII 

Iniliau land cessions Liv 

List nf jmlilications of the Unrcau of American Ethnology I.IX 

Annual reports LIX 

linlletins I.xiv 

Contriliutions to North American Ethnology i.xvi 

Introductions ... i.xvii 

Miscellancons jiublications i.x viii 

Index to anthors and titles i.xix 

ACCOMPANYING PAPERS 

nil', KsKiMo ahoit ukuini: stuait, nv kowaud wii.i.iasi nklson 

Intniduitory 1!) 

Sketch of the western Eskimo 2.'i 

Geographic features of their range '2',i 

Distribution of tribes and dialects 24 

Physical characteristics 26 

Clothing 3(1 

Garments in general 30 

Waterproof garments 3fi 

Ear flaps 37 

Gloves and mittens 38 

Foot wear 40 

Boots 40 

Socks and boot pails 13 

Clothing bags 43 



TI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

Sketcli of the Tvesteru Eskimo — Coiitinueil Page 

Personal adornment 44 

Liibrets 44 

Tattooing 50 

Heads and earrings 52 

Hair oruaments and combs 57 

BracelTits 58 

Bel ts and belt buttons 59 

Utensils and implements 63 

Lamps 03 

Dippers, ladles, and spoons 65 

Wooden dishes, trays, and buckets 70 

Pestles 73 

Blubber hooks and carriers 73 

Bags for water and oil 73 

Rakes 74 

Root picks 75 

Bone breakers 75 

Eire-making imiilenients 75 

Snow beaters 77 

Snow shovels and ice picks 78 

Mallets 79 

Implements used in arts and manufactures 80 

Ivory and bone working tools 80 

Drills, drill bows, and caps 81 

Kn i ves 85 

Chisels 86 

Polishing and finishing tools 87 

Wedges and mauls - 88 

Arrowshaft straighteners 88 

Beaver-tooth tools 89 

Birch-bark tools 90 

Stone implements 91 

Tool bags and handles 93 

Toolboxes 93 

Women's workboxes 98 

Handles for workboxes and water buckets 100 

Xeedlecascs 103 

Women's " housewives" 104 

Needles and bodkins lOG 

Boot- sole creasers 108 

Women's knives 108 

Thimbles and thimble holders 109 

Implements for making thread and <<)rd 110 

Skin-dressing tools - . 11- 

Skin dressing 116 

Hunting and hunting implements 118 

Animal traps and snares 118 

Bird snares and nets 131 

Seal spears 135 

Walrus and whale spears - 137 

Eloats 140 

Lances 145 

Spear and lance heads 147 

Throwing sticks 152 

Bows 155 



CONTENTS VII 

■>Uetcli of the western Eskimo— Continued Pago 
Huutiiij; and Imntinf; implements— Cuntinnecl 

Arrows 157 

Arrows for large game l")? 

Bird arrows Ij!) 

I'isli arrows IGO 

Arrowpoints llil 

Quivers Itil 

Wrist-guards HU 

Hoxcs for arrow- and spear-points 162 

Fin-arms IfiS 

Hunting bags ami helmets 166 

Snow goggles 169 

Hunting and skinning knires 171 

Drag handles 172 

Fishing and fishing implements 173 

Methods of fishing 173 

Fish traps 183 

Nets 185 

Net-making implements 190 

(iangea 190 

Shuttles and needles 191 

Marlinspikes 193 

Keels 193 

Fish spears 194 

Arts and manufactures lUii 

Bono and ivory carving 19t! 

Drawing 1''7 

Written records 19S 

Paints and colors 198 

Pottery 201 

Mats, baskets, and bags 202 

Travel and transportation 205 

Sleds - 205 

Dog harness and aeeouterments 209 

Breast yokes 211 

.Suowshows 212 

lee staffs 211 

Ice creepers 215 

Boats 211J 

Boat hooks 222 

Paddles 223 

Spear and paddle guards 226 

Trade and trading voyages 228 

T'nits of value and measurement — Numeiation 232 

I'nits of value 232 

I'nits of measurement 232 

Chronometry 231 

Numeration 235 

Villages and houses 21 1 

Kuins 2tJ3 

Food ^67 

Tobacco and smoking 271 

Metho<ls of using tobacco 271 

Toba<<o implements 273 

Suulf-bo.Kes 273 



VIII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

Sketch of the western Eskimo — Continueil Page 
Tobacco and smoking — Continned 
T<)l),icro implements — Continued 

.Snuff-tnbes 275 

Boxes for fungus aslies 275 

Quid boxes 278 

Pipes 280 

Tobacco bags 284 

House-life and social customs 285 

Thekashim 285 

Sweat batlis 287 

Dwelling houses 288 

Childbirtli 289 

Pn1>erfy 291 

Marriage - - 291 

Moral iharacteristice 292 

Treatment of disease 309 

Jlortuary customs - 310 

Totems and family marks 322 

Wars 327 

Games and toys 330 

Music and dances 347 

Fensts and festivals - 357 

The function of the celebrations 357 

Calendar of festivals 357 

The "luvitmg-in"' feast 358 

The "Asking" festival 359 

The trading festival 361 

Feasts to the dead 363 

Mortuary feasts in general 363 

Great feast to the dead 365 

Masks and maskettes 393 

Other ceremonial objects - 415 

Religion and mythology 421 

Effect of Christian contact 421 

Witchcraft 422 

Shades of the dead 422 

Genesis myth — the Raven Father 425 

Supernatural powers 427 

Mythic animals 441 

Conception of natural phenomena 449 

Traditional showers of ashes 449 

Animal symbidisni - - 450 

Folk tales 450 

Scope of Alaskan folklore 450 

Flood legends from St Michael 452 

Tales of the Raven 452 

The creation 452 

Raven takes a wife 462 

The Raven, the Whale, and the Jlink 404 

The Red Bear ( from St Michael and Norton sound ) 167 

The Giant ITl 

The One- who- finds-nothing 474 

the Lone AVoman 479 

The circling of cranes 480 

The dwarf people 480 

The Sun and the Moon (from St Mirliael) ■!81 



C< )XT]:XT!< IX 

Sketch of the western Eskimo — Cunliiiueil Page 
Folk tales — Continued 

The Sun and the Moon (from the Lower Yukon) 482 

Origin of land and people 482 

The hrin^iiig of the light by Ilaven 483 

The Red Bear i from Andrei vsky ) 485 

The last of the Thunderbirds 486 

The Land of the Dead 488 

The strange boy 490 

Origin of the Yu-gi-yhik or I-tl-kfi-tah festival 494 

Origin of winds 497 

The strong man 499 

The Owl-girl 499 

Tale of Ak -chlk-chiV-gilk 499 

The discontented Grass-plant 505 

The tire ball 510 

The Land of Darkness -in 

The liaven and the Marmot ■')14 

The shaman in the moon 515 

The Man-worm 51(i 

Migration legend 51(; 

Origin of the people of Diiunede islands and of East cape, Siberia 517 

IXllIAX I.AN1> ( KSSIOXs IX THE INITKI) STATES, itY CHARLES C. ROYCE, WITH 
AX IXTKODICTIOX BY CYRL'S THOMAS 

Introduction, by Cyrns Thomas 527 

Right to the soil dependent on discovery 527 

Foreign policy toward the Indians 538 

The Spanish policy 539 

The French policy 545 

The English policy 549 

Colonial policy toward the Indians 5G2 

The policy in general 562 

Virginia 563 

Maryland 569 

New York 575 

New Jersey 587 

Pennsylvania 591 

Massachusetts 599 

Connecticut 611 

Rhode Island 619 

North Carolina 624 

South Carolina 630 

Georgia 634 

New Hampshire and 1 >elawarc 639 

Policy of the United States 610 

Acknowledgments 644 

Schedule of treaties and acts of Congress authorizing allotments of land 

in severalty 615 

Schedule of land cessions 648 

Index 651 



ERRATA 
Platk LIII. Change "seal spear" in tlie title to "bird spear." 
Plate LVIII. Change "bird spear" in the titl(! to "seal spear." 
Plate XCVII. The mask shown in this plate should be inverted. 



I LUSTRATIONS' 



I'l.ATi: I. i;niii|) of KifiMi,'niiiut frum I'.nt Churiu'c 1!) 

II. Mii|. 23 

III. M:ilriinit family from IShaktolik L'o 

I\ . l\iiiMj;umut male, Su-ku-uk, age 25 27 

V. KifiniJtnmut male. Komik-seiiei', agf 23 29 

VI. Kiriui;iuinit male, Kyo-knasce, ai;c HI 31 

VII. Kinuyumiit male, Iser-kyuer, ago 20 33 

VHI. Kirmgumut female, Kok-suk, age 23 35 

IX. Kinngiimut fniiale, rnger-kei-kliik. age 22 .• 37 

.\. Iviruigiimut female, age 22 39 

XI. .'Siberian Eskimo: a. Woman of Mecliigme liay. h. Woman of East 

'■■■>]>» - 10 

XII. ICskiiiin men— Mechigme bay, .Siberia 13 

XIII. ('a]ie I'riiK (• of Wales aud Icy Capo men 1.5 

XI\'. Typically ilrcs.sed womeu and eliildren from East eape, Siberia 17 

XV. Typical drcs.s of Kaviagmut and Knskokwogmnt men and women.. 49 

XVI. .Man's birclskiu frock. (G4273) .50 

XVII. I'roiit anc! ba.k (.f inau'.s deerskin frock. (WIOTi 53 

XVIII. Ironl and back of woman's frock. i751(ij 55 

XIX. 1 runt of man'.s fisliskiii frock. (3.S817) .5l! 

XX. .Men's gloves: 1 (|U271), 2 (172S), 3 (48135), 4 (04287), 5 (443.5Ui, li 

(384.54), 7 (48101) .58 

XXI. I'.oots. waterproof mittens, and straw socks: 4 (49082), 2 (38814), 
3 (48127), 4 (43345), 5 (49083), (48381), 7 (481.32), 8 (38871), 9 

(38779), 10 (129822), 11 (43315), 12 {IdUM) (iO 

X X 1 1. I..il>ret8 : 1 ( 176070), 2 (31277), 3 ( 17t>0()9), 4 (36809), 5 (36871 ), 6 (176074 ), 
7 ('37038), 8 (16210), 9 (437.57), 10 (16205), 11 (16204), 12 (16'203), 13 

(76681), 14 (176067), 15 (76678), 16 (48749), 17 (33.506), 18 (37663), 19 
19 (44903), 20 (44902), 21 (48898), 22 (45200), 23 (176068), 24 (63839), 

25 (44130) 62 

.XXIIl. Kot/ebne Sound Malenuit men and women with labrets 64 

XX1\'. I'.arriijgs: 1 (4573), 3 (4.S306), 3 (,38170), 4 (37271), 5 (4.574), 6 (37270), 
7 (1572), 8 (38051), 9 (24701), 10 (38168), 11 (4569), 12 (4.3667), 13 
(36839), 14 (37517), 15 (37264), 10 (4570), 17 (4,568), 18 (36862), 19 

(14912) 66 

XXV. Earrings and oilier ornaments: 1 (37002), 2 (37745), 3 (37006), 4 (37007), 
5 (43743), 6 (37003), 7 (36003), 8 (38417), 9 (37258), 10 (37254), 11 

(38410). 12 (373.56), 13 (4.'S730) 68 

.XXVI. Women and (liildreu of Capo Smith 70 

'Tbf Bgnres in ii.nri-iilhcsc.s I'ollowiu^' the tilU's of tlii^ illustrations refer tc. tlio ninnliers of tho 
objects in tiie cataUi;; of the United States National Museum. 

XI 



BUREAU OF AMKRICAX ETHNOLOGY 



Plate XXVII. Belt fusteuers: 1 (4442>^), 2 (37206), 3 (37043), 4 (4862;)), 5 
(37212), 6 (44641;, 7 (36920), 8 (43724), 9 (37034), 10 (43880), 
11 (45183), 12 (36911), 13 (63833), 14 (44529), 15 (43723), 16 
(37468), 17 (43719), 18 (37484), 19 (38565), 20 (37833), 21 
(37012), 22 (48194), 23 (37990), 24 (43615), 25 (37200), 26 
(37332), 27 (37989). 28 (38553), 29 (37706), 30 (37333) 72 

XXVIII. Lamps aud pots: 1 (63545), 2 (38078), 3 (64222), 4 (63544), 5 
(63566), 6 (30761), 7 (63570), 8 (49196). 9 (63543), 10 (127018), 

11 (49110), 12 (44338). 13 (63548) 74 

XXIX. Ladle.s aud dippers: 1 (38629), 2 (45054), 3 (45100), 4 (38631), 5 
(38635). 6 (33062), 7 (45007), 8 (38604), 9 (45513), 10 (63575), 

11 (63.576), 12 (48129) 76 

XXX. S,,o.iusaudl.adlcs: 1 (.33280), 2 (63227), 3 (37340), 4 (37475), 5 
(37116). 6 (35961), 7 (63832), 8 (37118), 9 (36355), 10 (35959), 
11 (363.58), 12 (38062). 13 (36359), 14 (36357), 15 (63278), 16 
(38508), 17 (38527), 18 (45051), 19 (38503), 20 (43491), 21 

(38637), 22 (3.5960). 23 (37120), 24 (38632), 25 (38638) 78 

XXXI. Trays and jiestli'S: 1 (63719), 2 (127007), 3 (48844), 4 (38678), 5 

"(37868), 6 (38683), 7 (38844), 8 (38677), 9 (127019) 80 

XXXII. Trays aud buckets: 1 (63243), 2 (38654), 3 (38685), 4 (33066), 5 

'(37143), 6 (373.55), 7 (63245), 8 (38642) 82 

.XXXIll. Implements and utensils: o, Water bag, mouthpieces, blublier 
book, and carrier: 1 (44605), 2 (35982), 3 (37432), 4 (36488), 
5 (33213), 6 (43954). 7 (30774). 8 (16135), 9 (.37.375), 10 (38708), 
11 (30773), 12 (33203). b, Root picks: 1 (16132), 2 (44414), 3 
(33081) 84 

XXXIV. Fire-ra.aking implements: 1,2,3 (33166), 4, 5 (36325j, 6 (49067), 

7.8 (37961). 9(38601) 86 

XXXV. Snow sbovel, pick, rake, aud maul: 1(63600), 2 (48994), 3 

(636.50). 4 (03001) 88 

XXXVI. a,, Ivorv working tools: 1(63274), 2 (65483), 3 (37980), 4 (63319), 5 
(63316\ 6 (43821), 7 (33604), 8 (48087), 9 (46145), 10 (48179). 
ft. Drill bows: 1 (44206), 2 (44209), 3 (44467), 4 (33189), 5 
(33186). 6 (33191), 7 (45017), 8 (63804), 9 (44208), 10 (48021), 

11(63622) 90 

XXXVII. Drills, drill cai)s, and . ..rds: 1 (45563), 2 (126986), 3 (33171), 4 
(63323), 5 (331701, i; (38798), 7 (89625), 8 (89627), 9 (44203), 10 
(33172), 11 (38084), 12 (63720), 13 (48585) 14 (48565), 15 
(49177), 16 (45520), 17 (63663), 18 (33147), 19 (33174), 20 
(37962), 21 (33653), 22 (33149), 23 (36321), 24 (48927), 25 
(16176), 26 (4,5383), 27 (36322), 28 (44561), 23 (126995), 30 

(63506) 92 

XXXVIII. Wood- working tools: 1 (48705), 2 (38292), 3 (46147). 4 (48706), 5 
(36427), 6 (38494), 7 (44981), 8 (48704), 9 (36508), 10 (48552), 11 
(38201), 12 (36420), 13 (451.50), 14 (48542), 15 (43883), 16 
(45163), 17 (33026), 18 (36554), 19 (32882), 20 (48847), 21 
(36366), 22 (64154), 23 (38294), 24 (89634), 25 (64155), 26 
(32878), 27 (63,320), 28 (45488), 29 (63318), 30 (36507), 31 
(48291) 94 

XXXIX. Wedges and adzvs: 1 (388.36), 2 (16067), 3 (44601), 4 (48873), 5 
(63619), 6 (48872), 7 (127023), 8 (48182), 9 (382.58), 10 (33082), 

11 (.378651.12 (45069), 13 (33260), 14 (33083) 96 

XL. ArrowsU;i It straii;hfrncrs:ni(I I.e. iut setters: 1 (33039), 2 (63723), 
3 (4i:;s:;i. l i llll-.i, .". ,:;:'.(ils,.(i (38492), 7 (64159), 8 (48680), 

9 {IXI-S.-)). Ill (,;:;7!«h. 11 ( 13921), 12 (44745) 99 

XLI. Tool ba.i .nnd bandies: 1 (64151), 2 (44169), 3 (41398) 4 (48.531), 

5 ( 63305), 6 (48529), 7 (48089) 101 



ILl.rsTRA'I'IoNS XIII 

]'«■;« 

Ti: XLII. Tool an.l triuket boxes: 1 (41)103), 2 (03240). 3 (36240), 4 (375(U),r> 
(43,SS7), (:Hi23S)). 7 (36243), « (36241), 9 (49015), 10 (36244), 

11 1 ;'.i;2 ir, 1 102 

XLIII. r.iu-ki-t :ni(l liox li.uidles: 1 (44li9n, 2 (48685), 3 (63824), t (4S270), 

5 (38752). 6 (36375), 7 (48461), 8 (63809), 9 (24431), 10 (38776). 
11 (44716), 12 (63801), 13 (33279), 14 (48137), 15 (48164), 16 
(3.5273), 17 (43820), 18 ,3.^751), 19 (.33220), 20 (63884), 21 
(129218), 22 (441901, 23 (481631, 24 (43809), 25 (63879), 26 
(44276) 104 

.\LIV. 4'liiinlile guards, iieeiUe-cMSes. and l>oot-solo cveasers: 1(48496), 2 
i63421). 3 (364.59), 4 (364.56), 5 (364631, 6 (36461). 7 (48299), 8 
(364.55), 9 (361.53), 10 (364.54), U (44011), 12 (48664), 13 (36452), 

11 (44340), 15 (43.861), 16 (64165), 17 (63827), 18 ((i4167), 19 
(48570), 20 (44017), 21 (37237). 22 (36885), 23 (36878), 24 (45459), 
25 (24481), 26 (33462), 27 (368801, 28(48.560), 29(45168), 30 
(64164), 31 (38448), 32 (33699), 33 (43505), 34 (48980), 35 (36742), 
36 (367.58), 37(37807), 38(33214), 39(36721), 40(44137), 41 
(48546), 42 (63806), 43 (16189), 44 (48289), 45 (38364), 46(38449), 

47 (47738), 48 (33677), 49 (45140), 50 (43389), 51 (48.543) 106 

XI.V. "Housewives'' and lastenings: 1 (48963), 2 (37778), 3 (43662), 4 
(36090), 5 (37791), 6 (36695), 7 (37786), 8 (37189), 9 (37783), 10 
(45142), 11 (43663), 12 (49001), 13 (37319), 14 (64288), 15 (38691), 
16 (44021), 17 (38198), 18 (48795), 19 (37767), 20 (38221), 21 
(38402), 22 (36419), 23 (37310), 24 (374.57), 25 (38376), 26 (38241 ), 
27 (37739), 28 (35972), 29 (43694), 30 (38387), 31 (16343), 32 

(38690) 108 

XLVl. llodkin.s: 1 (33251), 2 (37304), 3 (38385), 4 (37752), 5(37621), 6 
(36286), 7 (36631), 8 (36634), 9 (43535), 10 (36632), 11 (37776), 12 

(43.388), 13 (36626), 14 (48798), 15 (48948), 16 (38495) 110 

X l.VII. Fish and skinning knives : 1 (36315), 2 (63771), 3 (63773), 4 (.37957), 

5(13892), 6 (36506), 7 (48829), 8 (48828). 9 (38256), 10 (4.3482).. 112 
XLNIII. Tliiead- and cord-making implements: a, Grass combs: 1(44779), 
2 (44777), 3 (44419), 4 (48120), 5 (33145), 6 (6.3657), 7 (48842), 
8 (38079), 9 (48877), 10 (48918). 6, Thread shuttles and 
needles: 1 (241(;n .. 2 i2Il(U), 3 (36449), 4 (48261), 5 (48287), 6 

14371(1 '. 7 (4:;71J'. s :;(;ilsi lU 

XI. IX. .^kin scrapers: 1 (,3(isl'.-, 1, L'i(;:;s51), 3 ((54181), 4 (63850), 5 (48631), 

6 (63868), 7 (48624), 8 (44084), 9 (63849), 10 (44983), 11 (44982), 

12 (48882), 13 (4.3408), 14 (64176), 15 (.382.52), 16 (63405), 17 
(.38828), 18 (33086), 19 (38485), 20 (43927) '1I6 

1.. .-ikin-rleaniug tools: 1 (43433), 2 (32890), 3 (387.55), 4 (43767), 
5 (482.56), (36.520), 7 (44771), 8 (63800), 9 (6.33.53), 10 (63351), 
11 (63833), 12 (6.3666), 13 (37967), 14 (4.5730), 15 (32885), 16 

(45105), 17 (48982), 18(48549) 118 

I.I. Xets. snares, and traps: 1 (38622), 2 (33716), 3 (43291), 4 (442.55), 
5 (126033), 6 (46072), 7 (37651), 8 (63815), 9 (33820), 10 (33812), 
11 (126993), 12 ((>3.590), 13 (63590), 14 (63258), 15 (126993), 

16 OS nil 122 

1,11. llr:iiniii<; iliibs and seal-eai)tiiring implements: 1 (63745), 2 
ii;:i(i76i, 3 (3M76), 4 (33143), 5 (37.598), 6 (63270), 7 (63788), 8 
<6:17S7 1.9 (4.8.503), 10(481671, 11 (33143), 12(48.561), 13(45113), 
11 (3S.500), 15(63777), 16 (44411), 17 (4.5003), 18 (45005), 19 
(45047), 20 (63876), 21 (63781), 22 (44142),' 23 (64218), 21 

(127013), 25 (463531, 26 (63780) 126 

I. HI. St Mirhacl liniiler casting a seal spea:- 135 



miREAU OF AMKRICAN ETHNOLOGY 



Pass 



Platk LI\'. >Sm:ill se:il spears aud liues : 1 (175069), 2 (tiotWO), ;i(3(iU()), 4 (3oiS7L'), 

5 (36103), 6 (37350). 7 (43748). 8 (36081), 9 (175673), 10(160337) .. 137 
LV. Spears and lauces: a, Large spears : 1 (30911), 2 (29780), 3 (48150), 

4 (33973), 5 (36067), C (33888), 7 (45415), 8 (43429). b. Lances : 
1 (17.5672), 2 (48379), 3 (45419). 4 (15431), 5 (37388), 6 (.37389).. 139 
LVI. Huuting and fishing apparatns: a, Float, float-plugs, and mouth- 
pieces: 1 (37820), 2 (37239), 3 (44627), 4 (36499), 5 (37822), 6 
(36498), 7 (43981), 8 (44306), 9 (43.509), 10 (44629), 11 (45169), 

12 (44305), 13 (43510), 14 (44770), 15 (37329), 16 (36209), 17 
(33298), 18 (63340), 19 (44285), 20 (3.3452), 21 (33451), 22 (36195), 

23 (63663), 24 (44284), 25 (37818), 26 (3.3627), 27 (36209), 28 
(44432), 29 (43515), 30 (45126), 31 (63342). l, Cord attachers : 
1 (16192), 2 (37054), 3 (37060), 4 (37068), 5 (37824), 6 (37052), 7 
(38149), 8 (48317), 9 (370.56), 10 (37036), U (129271), 12 (44709), 

13 (37064), 14 (43624), 15 (33650), 10 (49009), 17 (43382), 18 
(33630), 19 (38006), 20 (37218), 21 (37228), 22 (33445), 23 (37057) . 142 

LVII. Objects used in hunting: n. Lance points, etc. : 1 (48389), 2(43758), 
3 (37657), 4 (48181), 5 (43870), 6 (38517), 7 (36294), 8 (44051), 9 
(37618), 10 (36312), 11 (44217), 12 (.37662), 13 (63863), 14 (44321), 

15 (126915), 16 (37390), 17 (38459), 18 (38607), 19 (46076), 20 
(16173), 21 (33159), 22 (446.57), 23 (36333), 24 (37389), 25 (3738S), 

26 (37581 ), 27 (37390). h, Spearheads, points, finger-rests, etc : 
1 (44405), 2 (63497), 3 (126912), 4 (16125), 5 (37377), 6 (44699). 7 
(44703), 8 (44746), 9 (38529), 10 (48820), 11 (33632), 12 (48471). 
13 (1)3334), 14 (36343), 15 (37951), 16 (44421), 17 (43461), 18 
(43461), 19 (48276), 20 (44077), 21 (45171), 22 (43865), 23 (45173), 

24 (()3842), 25 (63814),26(63843), 27 (33465), 28 (44812), 29 (45170), 

30 (37671), 31 (48293), 32 (33641), 33 (37417), 34 (36097). ..... . 148 

LVII I. St Michael mau casting a bird spear 151 

LI.\. liird spears: 1 (36139), 2 (33879), 3 (48387), 4 (48354), 5 (36129), 

6 (45426), 7 (.33845), 8 (48350), 9 (29852), 10 (33848), 11 (36076) . . 153 
L.\. Bows: 1 (36038), 2(36033), 3(33886),4(160341), 5(43679), 6(36034), 

7 (48374), 8 (33884), 9 (73172), 10 (4.5736), 11 (36029) 155 

LXI. Hunting and war implements: «, Arrows for large game and for 

war: 1 (126a90), 2 (17()093a), 3 (63.584), 4 (176093d), 5(45433). 
6 (1760931), 7 (129327), 8 (16415), 9 (38179), 10 (16415), 11 
16358! I, 12 (63584 a). b, Arrowpoints, strengtheuers for bows 
Muil cjuivers, and wrist-guards: 1 (48259), 2 (48974), 3 (63374), 4 
(33634), 5 (49065), 6 (48717), 7 (48200), 8 (38530), 9 (63860), 10 
(43950), 11 (44078), 12 (63331), 13 (63276), 14 (63328), 15 (63326), 

16 (46097), 17 (48446), 18 (63375), 19 (44079), 20 (63755), 21 
(43872), 22 (63864), 23 (63753), 24 (36300), 25 (44048), 20 (:W1.50). 

27 (24596). c. Bird arrows and (juiver: 1 (36140), 2 (17(;ii;M « \ 

3 (45432), 4 (33833), 5 (33821), 6 (,33824), 7 (33827), 8 (176095) . . 1.58 
LXII. lioxes for arrowpoints and jiaints: 1 (33015), 2 (44458), 3 (33019), 

4 (44450), 5 (48253), 6 (37557), 7 (38475), 8 (24607), 9 (33024). 10 
(45514), 11 (24347), 12 (43489), 13 (383.36), 14 (37342), 15 
(48252), 16 (37342), 17 (43485) 162 

LXIII. Olijccts used with guns and in hunting: 1 (49187), 2 (33209), 3 
(44326), 4 (44612), 5 (33210), 6 (44117), 7 (43977), 8 (36323), 9 
(44773), 10 (43512), 11 (36407), 12 (43513), 13 (63349), 14 (64197), 
15 (37433), 16 (36486), 17 (43923), 18 (438.54), 19 (48134), 20 
(44772), 21 (4 1966), 22 (38100), 23 (43490), 24 (484.50), 25 (37966), 
26 (.36490), 27 (37363), 28 (33079). 29 (44963). 30 (44388), 31 
(36026), 32 (44327), 33 (43480) 164 



I!,l.l'STl;.\'I'IONS XV 

I'l.Aii: l.\I\. lliintin;; Iielmuts, visors, aud 8uo\v goggles: 1 (14328), 2 (38659), 
:! (44330), 4 (381)58), 5 (72906), 6 (32945), 7 ((53620). 8 (44256), 

9 (32942), 10 (46137), U (63825), 12 (63269), 13 (4S996i, M 
(36351), 15 (33136), 16 (37351), 17(45072), 18(160337), 19 
(44349), 20(38718), 21 (38711), 22 (38713) 166 

l.XV. Neiihiite liiiil'e sharpener, dagger, and sheath: 1 (485S6), 2,3 

1176072) 170 

I. XVI. Cord or drag haudles: 1 (37693), 2 (44537), 3 (48190), 4 (33620). 5 
(63689), 6 (38556), 7 (48567), 8 (44885), 9 (45231), 10 (48666), 
11(45176), 12(44890), 13(43970), 14 (33657), 15 (45026), 16 

(37384), 17 (46162), 18 (44191), 19 (44151) 173 

I,\\II. I.e i.iok, scoops, and lish spears: 1 (48344), 2 (48343), 3 (33860), 

4 (,36070), 5 (49051), 6 (49049), 7 (49141), 8 (49142), 9 (36024), 

10 (33894) 175 

l.XVIII. lishiug implements: 1 (1()303), 2 (44096), 3 (37349), 4 (37348). 5 

(635131. 6 (38377), 7 (33037), 8 (33036), 9 (33376), 10 (37946), 

11 (45115), 12 (44930), 13 (48298), 14 (372.53), 15 (38413), 16 
(36378), 17 (37253), 18 (44745), 19 (43852), 20 (63284), 21 
(43401), 22 (63265), 23 (33915), 24 (45402), 25 (33816), 26 
a5441), 27 (33900), 28 (33899), 29 (33038), 30 (44075), 31 (33915), 

32 (03513) 176 

LXIX. Fishhooks and sinkers : 1 (4G318), 2 (46264), 3 (37413), 4 (44370), 

5 (64199), 6 (45255), 7 (44482), 8 (45261), 9 (49172), 10 (44475), 
11 (49172), 12 (44509), 13 (44953), 14 (44.508), 15 (64188), 16 
(63630). 17 (44125). 18 (48305), 19 (44954), 20 (44493), 21 
(636.34), 22 (44371), 23 (44480), 24 (44371), 25 (12(5983), 26 
(41939). 27 (44938), 28 (63512), 29 (126984), 30 (38816), 31 
(12i;9?<9t, 32 (6.3897), 33 (126989a) 178 

LXX. oli.jeits nsed in fishing: 1 (45422), 2 (48998), 3 (37347), 4 (48(599), 
5 (63377), (> ((53737). 7 (63744), 8 (38808), 9 (38867), 10 (127943), 
11 (.38498), 12 (49148), 13 (.32988), 14 (17(5092), 15 (38825). 16 

(.331.38) 184 

I.XXI. Setting lish trap throngh the iee on the Vnkon, near Ikogmut.. 187 

LXXII. Xet-makiug implements: 1 (439(57), 2(49183), 3 ((53304), 4 (63305), 
5 (43811),6 (3(5373),7 (48539), 8 (44487), 9 (37428), 10 (49004), 
U (48283), 12 (44202), 13 (44996), 14 (63(5.52), 15 (48832). 
16 (33176), 17 (.33257), 18 (.36413), 19 (44385), 20 (44607), 
21 (48722), 22 (48400), 23 (445(59', 24 (332(57), 25 (.38276). 
26 (45110) 190 

LXXIII. Xet-raaking implements : 1 (3(5681), 2 (33050), 3 (37459), 4 (36416). 
5 (36398), 6 (14413), 7 (48726), 8 (38662), 9 (37927). 10 (37928), 
11 (126988), 12 (63307), 13 (19408), 14 (44787), 15 (49013). 
16 (38211). 17 (48938), 18 (4444f<), 19 (48386), 20 (63654), 
21 (49000), 22 (3,3095), 23 (44!»!»4), 24 (44573), 25 (44463), 
26 (45014), 27 (48583), 28(38501) ' 192 

LXXn'. Objeets of grass and spruce root: 1 (37603), 2 (.37926), 3 (44234 ), 
1 (36190), 5 (.38204 ), (32977). 7 (35962), 8 (32968), 9 (1(50949), 
10 (127890), 11 (17(5077). 12 (176078), 13 (38467), 14 (32961,^ 

15 (32945) 202 

I.XXV. Malenmt family with dog sled 205 

LXX\I. Model of sled frame with otlicr objects nsed in transportation: 
1 (63587), 2 (63656), 3 (43849), 4 ((5.3371), 5 (127004), 6 ( 14375), 
7 (63361), 8 (49076), 9 (41.7.36), 10 (63829), 11 (6.3698), 12 

(43.857). 13 (48725), 14 ( 16251), 15 (49146), 16 (48104) 20s 

I.\X\II. Model of nmiakwitli matting sail. (38882) 217 



KUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

Page 
IK LXXVIII. ilodf] ot'iiiiiiak frame ;uul appurteuauces of umiak and kaiak 
rigging: 1 (45284), 2 (48587), 3 (37016), 4 (37672), 5 (4^185), 

6 (44443), 7 (37300), 8 (37461), 9 (37301), 10 (37001), 11 
(37247), 12 (43538), 13 (35998), 14 (43705), 15 (44711), 16 
(38284), 17 (24698), 18 (33407), 19 (44980), 20 (44755), 21 
(44531), 22 (36421), 23 (37426), 24 (36424), 25 (37939), 26 
(63665), 27 (33219), 28 (45380), 29 (38277), 30 (36392), 31 
(33386), 32 (44759), 33 (63878), 34 (127014), 35 (46304), 36 
(44758), 37 (48169), 38 (38883) 218 

LXXIX. Kaiaks: 1 Nnnivak island (76283), 2 Nunivak island (160345), 
3 St Jllchael (166932), 4 King island (160326), 5 Cape 

Espenl>erg (129575), 6 Cape Krusenstern (129574) 220 

LXXX. Paddles and boat hooks: 1 (33893), 2 (36023), 3 (43347), 4 
(36022), 5 (45408), 6 (73169), 7 (36071), 8 (36057), 9 (45406), 

10 (48148) 223 

LXXXI. .Stiireliouses at Ikogmut 245 

LXXXII. Winter view of Razbinsky 247 

LXXXIII. Eskimo dwellings: a, House at Plover bay. Ii, Xnatak sum- 
mer lodge 259 

LXXXI\'. Women of Plover bay, Siberia 260 

LXXXV. Summer camji at Cape Lisburne 263 

LXXXVI. Tobacco and snuif boxes and snuft'-making implements: 1 
(43797), 2 (38334), 3 (48247), 4 (6580), 5 (36268), 6 (33013), 

7 (36270), 8 (36276), 9 (35956), 10 (36620), 11 (36267), 12 
(48839), 13 (36282), 14 (36281), 15 (36284), 16 (16094), 17 
(37559), 18 (36280), 19 (43824), 20 (37857), 21 (37539), 22 
(36260), 23 (43952), 24 (,36274), 25 (44957), 26 (37.540), 27 
(1636), 28 (33097), 29 (7074), 30 (48737) 27(i 

LXXXVII. Fungus ash boxes and tobacco bags: 1 (24744), 2 (37907), 3 
(48255), 4 (64186), 5 (44059), 6 (38665), 7 (64187), 8 (63721), 9 
(44960). 10 (38472), 11 (36249), 12 (48559), 13 (38664), 14 

(37858) 272 

LXXXVI 1 1. Pipes aud pipe mold: 1 (44393), 2 (38785), 3 (63511), 4 (48172), 

5 (38790), 6 (63785), 7 (38788), 8 (45327), 9 (43963), 10 

1 32869), 11 (48171), 12 (43999), 13 (48076), 14 (49192) 280 

LXXXIX. Ivory pipestems: 1 (7506), 2 (2292), 3 (154073), 4 (2282) 283 

XC. Snuff tubes: 1 (44471), 2 (36807), 3 (38435), 4 (37498), 5 (36821), 

6 (38039), 7 (38042), 8 (36818), 9 (36817), 10 (36789), 11 
(37316), 12 (35978), 13 (49026), 14 (36825), 15 (37811) 284 

XC'I. Graveyard at Razbinsky 317 

XCII. Eskimo plate armor 330 

XCIII. Dolls: 1 (44871), 2 (24869), 3 (64209), 4 (37707), 5 (36216), 6 

(38577), 7 (63518), 8 (63378) 342 

XCIV. Snow knives: 1 (36377), 2 (38359), 3 (37283), 4 (36578), 5 
.43,501), 6 (127407), 7 (43890), 8 (127398), 9 (36514 i, l(i 

(36591), 11 (36568), 12 (37425), 13 (36555) 344 

XCV. Masks: 1 (48989),2 (48985), 3 (33131), 4 (43779) 396 

XCVI. Masks: 1 (33108),2 (33104) - 398 

XCVII. Mask. (33118) 401 

XCVIII. Masks: 1 (49020), 2 (64242), 3 (38733) 404 

XCIX. Masks: 1 (64248), 2 (38862), 3 (38645), 4 (38811) 406 

V. Masks: 1 (64260), 2 (33111), 3 (33105), 4 (33107) 408 

i;l. Masks: 1 (33134), 2 (37654) 410 

CII. Masks: 1 (33126). 2 (48913). 3 (37864), 4 (64238) 412 



ILLrsTRATIOXS XVII 

Pag.) 

Plate CIII. Finger masks and maskoids: 1 (161'!), 2 (04258), 8 (37805), 4 (64252), 

5 (G4243), 6 (64206) 411 

CIV. Finger masks : 1 (24746), 2 (38648), 3, 4 (36231) 416 

CV. Finger masks : 1 (38451), 2 (33125), 3 (33121) 418 

CVI. Bolts and armlet: 1 (37021), 2 (64221), 3 (176071) 420 

CVII. Objects etihed with mythologic figures: a, Spear rest with 
iigiires of thuuderbirds catching whales. (4S169.) h, Ivory 
pipestem with etched figures of the man-worm and tho 

thunderbird. (154075) 416 

X.I. 

C'VIII. Alabama 1 

CIX. Alabama, northern portion 2 

ex. Arizona 1 3 

CXI. Arizona 2 4 

CXII. Arkansas 1 5 

CXIII. Arkansas 2 6 

CXIV. California 1 .,. 7 

C.XV. California 2 (with inset special maji i 8 

CXVI. Colorado 1 !) 

CXVII. Colorado 2 10 

CXVIII. Xorth Dakota and South Dakota 1 11 

CXIX. North Dakota and South Dakota 2 12 

CXX. Norlh Dakota and South Dakota 3 13 

CXXI. Florida 14 

CXXII. Georgia 15 

CXXIII. Idaho 16 

CXXIV. Illinois 1 17 

CXXV. Illinois 2 18 

CXX VI. Indiana 1!) 

CXX VII. Indiana, detail 20 

CXXVIII. Indian Territory and Oklahoma 1 21 

CXXIX. Indian Territory and Oklahoma 2 22 

CXXX. Indian Territory and Oklahoma 3 23 

CXXXI. lowal 24 

CXXXII. Iowa 2 25 

CXXXIII. Kansas 1 26 

CXXXIV. Kansas2 27 

CXXXV. Louisiana 28 

CXXX VI. Michigan 1 20 

CXXXVII. Michigan 2 30 

CXXX VIII. Michigan, Saginaw bay to Lake Erie 31 

CXXX IX. Michigan, region about Mackinaw and Detroit 32 

CXL. Minnesota 1 33 

CXLI. Minnesota 2 34 

CXLII. Minnesota, northern portion 35 

CXLIII. Mississipiii 36 

CXLIV. Missouri 1 37 

CXLV. Missouri 2 38 

CXLVI. Montana! 30 

CXLVII. Montana 2 40 

CXLVIII. Nebraska 41 

CXLIX. Nebraska, ea.stern portion 42 

CL. Nevada 43 

, CLI. New Mexico 1 44 

18 ETH II 



XVIII BUREAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY 

No. 

Plate CLII. New Mexico 2 45 

CLIII. New Mexico and Texas, ilet;iil 4ti 

CLIV. New York 47 

CLA'. Nortli Carolina, portion of 4S 

CLVI. Ohio 4!l 

CLVII. Ohio, detail 50 

CLVIII. Oregon 1 51 

CLIX. Oregon 2 52 

CLX. Pennsylvania 53 

CLXI. Tennessee and portions of bordering states 54 

CLXII. Tennessee, detail 55 

CLXI II. Tennessee and AlaliMnia, portions of 56 

CLXIV. Texas, portion of 57 

CLXV. Utahl 58 

CLXVl. Utah 2 59 

CLXVII. Washington 1 (50 

CLXVIII. Washington 2 , (U 

CLXIX. Washington, along Admiralty inlet (i2 

CLXX. Washington, northwestern 63 

CLXXI. Wisconsin 1 H4 

CLXXII. Wisconsin 2 05 

CLXXIII. Wyoming 1 (56 

CLXXIV. AVyomiug2 67 

Page 
Figure 1. Scheme of color on masks and inask-liko objects, grave boxes, and 

totem markings 26 

2. Man's hood from Konigunngnmut. (38657) .S2 

3. Fox-skin cap 33 

4. JIan's hood of reindeer and marmot skin and mink for. (371103) ... 33 

5. Man's wolf-head summer hood from I'oiut Hope. (64270) 34 

6. Ear-flaps. (37398) 37 

7. Fish-skin clothing bags: 1 (37631), 2 (37401) 43 

8. Clothing bag of sealskin. (48009) 44 

9. King island man with labrets of lignite 47 

10. Kotzebue sound Malemut men and w(mien 49 

11. Tattooing on women, (n. South of Yukon mouth; b. East cape, 

Siberia ; c. Head of Kotzebue sound) 50 

12. Tattooing on a St Lawrence island girl 50 

13. Tattooing on a woman of St Lawrence island 51 

14. Tattooing on a woman's arm, East cape, Siberia 51 

15. Circular forms of tattooing 52 

16. Hair combs: 1 (36374), 2(48260), 3(126985), 4 (45484), 5 (44765), 

6 (63722) .57 

17. Ivory belt fastener. (44.523) 61 

18. Lamp from Point Barrow 63 

19. Ivory carving representing a lamp and stand 63 

20. Marrow spoon. (7519) 69 

21. Snow be;iters: 1 (48995), 2 (49175), 3 (48161), 4 (44998), 5 (48162).. . 77 

22. Snow shovels: 1 (36973), 2 ([49143) 78 

23. Mallets : 1 (48999), 2 (48909), 3 (48885) 79 

24. Wood chisels: 1 (43737), 2 (36397) 87 

25. Knife sbarjieners : 1 (43858), 2 (33047), 3 (46109), 4 (63529), 5 (43817) . 90 

26. Flint ilakers: 1 (63786),2 (64153),3 (37600), 4 (376151,5 (48.554) 91 

27. Wooden trinket box. (3.5955) 96 

28. Trinket box. (49075) 98 



ILLUSTRATIOXS XIX 

Page 

Figure L'9. Itoot-sol.i creasi-r. (7521) 108 

30. Sin.-w Iwialers. (lUiH.S) Ill 

31. .Sinew spinner from St l.iiwreme ishmd llL' 

32. Str.'tclioil sealsUin 116 

33. Method of folding sealskin 117 

34. Model of a deer snare. (48208) 1 lit 

3."). Kteliing on ivory sliowiug deer snares. (7.T21 1 120 

30. Game spits. (38188) 121 

37. Fox or wolf traji with sinew sjiring. (7.')10) 122 

38. Marniol trap. (33146) 12:. 

39. Sealskin Moat. (12!I3.SI. old number 4S33II) 141 

40. Cordatlacher. (7008) 144 

41. Cord attaelier, olivorse and reverse. (750!)) 145 

42. Speariioints for birds and fish: 1 (3849.0), 2 (38783), 3 (44574), 4 

(43361). 5 (126916), 6 (63333), 7 (4.5519), 8 (45737) 150 

43. Throwing sticks: 1 (49001). 2 (38670), 3 (33897), 4 (36013), 5 (243.55), 

6(4.5396), 7 (49002), 8 (168581), 9 (166946), 10 (15644), 11 (36018)... 154 

44. Fish arrows: 1 (160341), 2 (43680), 3 (49044), 4 (48340), 5 (48338), 6 

(63578), 7 (48341), 8 (49037), 9 (33858), 10 (36161) 160 

45. Ivory ornaments for hunting helmets: 1 (37419), 2(38.325), 3(.3(i477), 

4 (49014), 5 (32951), I! (36128),.7 (36408), 8 (43808) 109 

46. Cord handle of ivory. (7517) 172 

47. Toineod (ishiuj; through sea ice at St .Mieh.ael 174 

48. ( Grayling hook. (7515) 180 

49. Seiuing on Kotzebuo sound 186 

50. Mesh of dii>-uet made of sinew. (48923) 187 

51. Mesh of di)>-net made of willow hark. (48925) 187 

52. Mesh.lloat. and sinker of herring seine. (,33871) 188 

53. Herring seine with stretcher at (Uie end, and with Ho;it and sinker. 

(43353) 189 

54. Sealskin-eorcl hi-rring seine with stone sinker. (176090) 189 

55. \Voo<len ni-t lloat. (63505) 190 

56. Ivory marlinspike. (16143) 193 

.57. Marlinspike with bone point. (33100) 193 

58. Wooden paint box. ( :'.N:;3f<) 200 

59. Wooden paint Imis. ,:;.".9:.1) 200 

60. Clay pot from llotham inlet 202 

61. Kaviak hunter with hand sled 207 

62. Sled used on the Siberian shore of Hering strait. (176084) 20s 

63. Suowshoes from Norton hay. (45400) 212 

64. Snowshoe from C:ipe Uarby. (48092) 213 

65. Snowshoe from Icy cape. (63604) 213 

66. Snowshoe from^t Lawrence island. (63236) 214 

67. leestaff. (45424) 215 

68. Ice stall". (73178i 215 

69. Ice creepers: 1 and In (63881), 2 (46260), 3 (442.54), 4 (126982), 5 

(63514 ) 216 

70. Forms of umiak paddles: «, from Kotzebue sound; h, from Point 

Hope 224 

71. Kaiak paddles from Point Barrow and King island: 1 (89246), 2 

(1603261 225 

72. Ivory spear guard for kaiak. (176086a) 227 

73. Ivory spear guard for kaiak. (176086ft) 227 

74. Plan of house at St Michael 242 



XX BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

Page 

Figure 75. Storehouse at St Michael 243 

76. Kashim at St Michael 246 

77. Section of kashim at St Michael 247 

78. Section of kashim at Kushunuk 250 

79. Carved lamp support 252 

80. Section of house at Ignituk 25:^ 

81. Section of house at Ignituk 253 

82. Section of house at Cape Nome 251 

83. Ground plan of house at Cape Nome 254 

84. Walrus skin summer house on King island 256 

85. Eskimo village at East cape, Siberia 257 

86. Hou.se frame of whale ribs and jawbone 25;t 

87. Section of house on St Lawrence island 260 

88. Summer camp at Hotham inlet 260 

8St. Frame for summer lodge. Hotham inlet 261 

SIQ. Arrangement of summer camp at Hotham inlet 262 

ill. Summer lodge at Cape Thompson 262 

92. Sites of ancient villages at Cape Wankarem. Siberia 265 

93. Fungus used for making ashes to mix with tobacco. ^43366) 271 

94. Pipe from Kotzebue sound. (48133.1 281 

95. Pipe from Cape Prince of Wales. (7516) 284 

96. Respirator (front view). (38850) 288 

97. Lancet pointed with nephrite. (38797) 310 

98. Backscratcher. (45107) 310 

99. Position in which the dead are buried at St Michael 311 

100. Method of disjiosing of the dead at St Michael 313 

101. Position of burial of the dead on the lower Yukon 311 

102. Grave boxes, Yukon delta 315 

103. Burial box at Razbiusky 316 

104. Memorial images at Cape Vancouver 317 

105. Monument board at a Big lake grave 319 

106. Grave box at Cape Nome 320 

107. Grave on St Lawrence island 321 

108. Arrowpoiut showing wolf totem signs. (436891 322 

109. Spearhead representing a wolf. (38442) 323 

110. Spearhead representing a wolf. (43751) 323 

111. Spearhead rejjresentiug an otter. (43750) 323 

112. Spearhead representing an ermine. (36080) 323 

113. Gerfalcon totems on bow and seal spear 324 

114. Simple forms of the raven totem 321 

115. Raven totem tattooing on a Plover bay boy 325 

116. Raven totems on smoke-hole cover 325 

117. Wolf totem signs on a storehouse door 323 

118. Tobacco board with bear and loach signs. (48922) 326 

119. I'ignres on a grave box 326 

120. Boy with toy sled, St Lawrence island 331 

121. Dart. (4.5475) 331 

122. Top from Cape Prince of Wales. (43371) 311 

123. Toy woodpecker. (33798) 341 

124. Toy mouse. (48912) 342 

125. Toy representing a murre swimming. (63478) 342 

126. Clay doll. (48735) 342 

127. Woodeu doll. (38345) 313 

128. Doll. (38351) 343 

129. Woodeu doll. (37878) 344 



ILLUSTRATIONS XXI 

Figuro 130. Mechaniial doll. (tiSKM) ^!^l 

181. Toy hear with (loj; harness. (63644) .' 315 

132. Toy (l(,g.s and sh-.I. (63387) 3,'- 

133. Toy hear. (6386T) ' .,,'' 

134. loy kaiak from St Lawrence ishmd. (63449) 3jr, 

135. Ivory image of man and hear. (377,50} 341; 

136. Drum handle. (63797) "_ 3-,' 

137. Drum handle. (33308) ."..! 35X 

138. Ivory hiiton for beatingtime on a stick. (45282) 35-) 

139. Wand n.s.-d in "Asking" festivaL (33804) ........[][... 359 

140. Plan of kashim during mortuary ceremony 3^; 

141. Maskoid representing a seal-head with rising air bubbles. (SSUr^V. 4U 

142. Kagle-feather wand useil in dances. (490lil) 414 

143. Eagle-feather wand used in dances. (45446) 4;-, 

114. Armlet worn during (hinces. (4.5336) ...".. 4ii; 

145. Loon.skin lillet worn in dances. (49079) 44- 

146. Keindeer-skin fiDet. (36]9o) '.'.' 4jy 

147. Woman with ermine lillet and eagle-feather wands 41s 

148. Wristlet from Ikogmut. (36198) ' ' ' 44,, 

149. Armlet worn in dances. (48695) .^_' 4.,^! 

150. Fetich from a Malemnt kaiak ' 43g 

ir)l. firaphite fetich u.sed in right-whale tishing. (48384i 43<i 

151'. Whah- fetich of wood. (64220i '___ " 44^ 

1.'3. Shaman's doll fetich. (.37372) . . . ! m 

154. Drawing of a composite animal in a wooden tray. (38679) 444 

155. Drawing of the pdl-rai-yiik in a wooden tray. (45494) 444 

156. Drawingof thej)<i/-)a,'-y„-fconan umiak. (160261) 445 

157. Ivory carving of a composite animal. (44143) 443 

1.58. Ivory carving representing the man-worm. (43550) !"' 446 

159. Ivory carving of a mythic animal. (7518) '...' 447 

160. Ivory drag handle representing a composite animal. (7511). ...\ 447 

161. Ivory carving of a mermaid-like creature. (7520) 447 

162. Ivory float handle with mermaid-like tignre. (7514) .".' 4(x 

163. Carving representing a mennaid-liko creature. (36336) U$ 

164. Ivory carving showing the (.ice of a walrus i»Ha. (43561) ' 448 
16.-). Drawing of a mythic creature in a woo.len tray. (38642) 448 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



EIGHTEENTH ANNFAL KEPOUT 

OF THE 

m REAl OF AMERK AX ETHXOLOGY 



])v .1. \\ . Powell, Dirccror 



INTRODUCTION 

Resear'clies relatiiiii' To the Aiiicriciiu Indians liave be(Mi 
carried forward durini;- the tiscal vear ending Jinie 30, 1S!I7. 
in accordance witli tlie act (if ("oniiTess making jirovision "for 
continuing researches among the American Indians, nnch^r 
the direction of the Smithsonian Institution," approved June 
11, IS'JC. 

The operations have l)een coiidiicled in accordance witli a 
plan submitted on Jiuie 13. 181m;. Tlic field woi-k oi' the regu- 
lar officers of tlie liureau has extended into Arizona, Indian 
Territorv, Iowa, Elaine, New Brunswick. New ^Mexico. New 
York, Oklahoma, and Ontario, while operations have been car- 
ried t)n by special agents in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, 
Utah, and Wasliington state, as well as in Argentina, British 
Colum])ia. Cliile. and ^lexico. The office researclies liave dealt 
with material tVoni most of the states and from \arious other 
portions of the Amerii-an continents. 

A classification of ethnic science has grown up in connection 
with the classification of the aboriginal tribes through the opera- 
tions of the Bureau, and this has been perfecteil from }ear to 
vear. During recent years, mid p;irticularlv during the fiscal 
vear just closed, the researches have been shapeil by this classi- 
fication of the subject-matter ot' the science. The ])riinary lines 



XXVI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

of iuvestigaticni relate to (1) Arts or esthetolog'y, (2) Imlustries 
or teclinolog}" (including arclieologv), (3) Institutions or soci- 
ology, (4) Languages or philology, and (5) Myths and opinions 
or sophiology, as well as the requisite classificatory work involv- 
ing researches in somatology and psvcholog^'. 

The end of research in the Bureau of American Ethnohigvis 
the discoverN" of the relations of the alioriginal American triljes 
among each other and among the peoj^les of the world. The 
simpler relations are ascertained by direct observation and 
defined bv the aid of generalization; and continued observa- 
tion and generalization have led to the establishment of prin- 
ciples which aid in detining' the more conqjlex relations. The 
salient priuci})les developed through the researches have been 
set forth in previous reports; they serve to define the general 
science of man, to di.stingui.sh the essentially human charac- 
teristics from tliose of the lower animals, and to outline the 
priniiu'v categories of activities which characterize mankind. 

Tile recognition of the essentially human activities aifords a 
means for classifviug tribes and peoples. The classification in 
terms of activities rejiresents a decided advance be}'ond the 
plane of classification in terms of physical characteristics, and 
raises the science of man to the level of the older sciences 
in their modern aspects — e. g., to the plane occupied during 
recent years bv jdivsical astronomv or physical geology. At 
the same time the classification leads to the recognition of the 
lines of liuman de^■elopment, and serves to define their trend; 
and therebv it prepares the way to clear comprehension and 
accurate definition of the natural stages in human develop- 
ment, i. e., tlie f >ur ])rincipal culture grades. Since each new 
recognition of relation extends the view of the student, the 
definition of the culture grades reacts on knowledge of the 
primary acti\'ities, and conduces to still more accurate and 
extended survey of the course of activital growth. 

The lines of development discerned among the American 
aborigines were set forth in terms of the activities in the last 
report; it was tliere shown tliat in each of the five categories 
the actiA'ities devel<»ped along convergent lines. For the pres- 



ADMINISIH.VTIVK liEI'OIJT 



flit it sutHccs til i>l)scr\'c tliiit tlic coiicliisioiis liavc l)('rii vcrl- 
lii-il anil cxti'inliMl iliri>nL;li rlir rcscarclii's ot' tlir last xcar. 

As liiTi'liiturr. rlir spcrial rcscaiTlics arc coiiiinuiiK iiiitiati-d 
ill tin- ticlil ami (■iiiii]ilcri'il in the hIHcc, LiiviiiL;- rise ti> (Ij lirlil 
research (iiieliuliiiL;- e\|ilurari(iii), and (II) ulHce researcli, w liieli 
toii'etlier ('(lUstitiiTe rlie nriuinal scieiitilir work nt' the ISiireaii; 
while the (leniaiiils nt' the piililie serxice ami the needs ut' the 
(•(illalxirators Ji■i^■e rise to (III) wurk in deseriptix e etlimiliij;'\-, 
(I\') bihlioijTaphie wnrk, (\') work in enllerrinii-, (\ II indiliea- 
tidii, and (VII) (•(iiicuiiiitant adininistrativ c and iiiiscellaiienns 
work. 

FIKL!) RKSKAIJCII AND KXI'LoKATloX 

At the bei^-innin;:- of the liseal ^■ear the I )ireetiir was eiiiiap'd 
in a reeoiuioissanee nt' shell iiiniinds and ntlier antii|nities mi 
the enast of Maine: here he was jniiied li\- Mr Frank Ilaniil- 
tmi ( 'nshiiiL;-. and a miinher >>{' shell nioiinds were sin-\ (■\eil 
and excaA'ated with snceess. Later in the season the I'assama- 
([uoddy Indians still li\ini;- in tlie vicinit\' were studied with 
some care, and their industries, especialK in house liuildiiiii', 
were in\-estiL;-ated: sulisei|Uentl\' some of the older men of the 
trihe were em])lo\"e(l to cnllect material for and tn erect an 
alxiriiiiiial wiii'wam, wliiidi was afterward transferred tn the 
Zooloyical Park at Washiiijiton. 

Duriiiii' July and Auiiust Dr J. Walter Fewkes was nccii- 
pied in makin;^- sur\e\'s and excavations of ruins. chiefl\- iu 
Arizona, with the ])riinar\' nliject of cnllectiiii:- prehistnric mate- 
rial fnr the enrichment nt' the Xatimial .Museum, hut with the 
secniidarN' ])ur|Mise nt inxcsti^atinL;' tlinse acti\ ities ni' tlu' ahn- 
rio-iues recorded iu the iimducts nf their handiwnrk still extant. 
His operatinns were nntal)l\' successful. 

Farl\ in .lul\ .Mrs .Matilda ( 'nxe Ste\'ensnii prnceeded to 
Zuni piieiilo t'nr tiie |)urpnse nf iii\ estit;'atin^- certain ceremo- 
nies not ade(|uatel\- studied hitherto, to the end that thev miiiht 
be incorporated in her monograph on the Zufii Indians. She 
remained tlirouiilmut half >'{' the liseal \-ear. and was alile to 
complete her researches in a satistactor\' manner. Incident- 



XXVIir BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

ally, jslie obtained at Zufii ami >Sia a number of saered masks 
used in the religious ceremonies of the people of tliose pueblos, 
which have been transferred t(^ the National Museum. 

Toward the end of July Dr Alliert S. Clatschet re})aired to 
eastern Maine and adjacent portions of New Brunswick in 
search of linguistic material among the tribesmen still living 
on St Croix river. His mission was successful. A large body 
of vocables, paradigms, and texts representing" the Passama- 
quodd}' dialects of the Algonquian linguistic stock was secured, 
and he was aide also to trace definitelv, for the first time, the 
derivation of many of tlie peculiar ])lace names of eastern 
Maine. 

From the middle of August until the middle of December 
Mr J. N. B. Hewitt was occupied in collecting inaterial repre- 
senting the languages and mytliology of the Iroquoian Indians 
located in central New York aiul soutliern Ontario. His work 
was eminently productive, }'ielding a large amount of material 
of exceptional use for comparative studies in the philology and 
sophiology of the Indians. 

Toward the end of September ]\Ir James Moonev repaired 
to Indian Territory and ( )klahoma, wliere he spent several 
months in collecting information and material relating cliiefiy 
to tlie Kiowa Indians. The {irimary purpose of the trip was 
research concerning the peculiar lieraldic system of the tribe; 
another ])urpose was the continuation of study of the use of 
pevote or "mescal" (a toxic plant corresponding measurably 
with hashish) in the ceremonies of the Kiowa, Apache, and 
other Indians; later in the season advantage was taken of his 
])resence on the ground to make a collection representing the 
Kiowa camp-circle for exhibition at the Tennessee Centennial 
Expositicm at Nashville. 

In April Mr AV J McClee visited the Muskwaki Indian settle- 
ment near Tama, Iowa, with the object of beginning a special 
study of the social organization of tliis little-known tribe. 
Although preliminary onh', his operations were successful. 
Incidentally he collected a (piantitv of al)original material for 
the National Museum. 

Early in 1S9G Mr J. B. Hatcher, of Princeton University, was 



ADMINISTKATIVF, REPOKT XXIX 

coiuiiiissioiUMl as ;i Special a^■(•llt<lt tlic liiircaii to <tliTaiii plmti)- 
graplis and oilier data jicrtaiiiini;- to the alxiri^iiics n\' rarapiuia 
anil '^I'icrra del l^'nciio. He rcacluMl tlic tirld and coinnicncrd 
operations in tlie course ot' a few months, and repoi'ts of pi-ot^-- 
re.ss were recelxed earl\- in the hscal \'ear. His field woi'k was 
compleled in June. The ]>liotoL;ra|ih\' was inoderat(d\' suc- 
cessful onl\-, hut the pictures were supplemented 1)\' a small 
tliou^'h interestini;- collection of oiijects representini;- the handi- 
work of these southernmost representatives of the .Vmericau 
aborigines. The success of the work, due jirimarilv to 3lr 
Hatcher's enl•l■L;■^' and intrepidit\', was promoted throuii'h the 
courtes\- of \arious oHicials of Ar^-i'Utina and ('liile, special 
credit l)einu- due to l>r Kstanislao Zehallos, formerl\- niinister 
plenipotentiai'\' from Ariicutina to the United States. 

( )u l)ecend)er IT, ls;i4, Mr A\'illis Iv E\erette was y-iven an 
honorarv couunission to collect liniiuistic and other material 
amony the aborigines of Oregon, AVa.slnngton, Uritish Colum- 
liia, and western Jlexico, and from time to time lie has sub- 
mitted \aluable linguistic material produced by his researches 
in thesi' j)roviiu-es. Kspecialh' noteworth\' contributions dur- 
ing the year relate to the Teue or Athapascan Indians of 
Oregon. 

Early in Septem])er Mr E. T. Perkins, jr., of the United 
States (ieological Survey, reported the discovery of certain 
remarkable Indian carvings in Snake Kiver valley. Idaho; and 
Mr Perkins was temporariK' detaile<l, through the courtesy 
of Honorable ('. 1 ). Walcott, Director of the Survi'\-, to make 
studies and photographs rej)i<^senting these car\'iugs. The 
work was completed about the close of (Jctol)er. 

Early in IS'.IT Mr II. S. (lane, of the Cleological Sui'vev, 
^vlnle on a temporarx' furlough, made a trip through the San 
Juan country in southwestern ('olorado and northwestern New 
Mexic<), under a commission from the liureau, tor the purpose 
of reconnoitering- and photographing prehistoric works. His 
notes and pictures were duU' transmitted and have l)een found 
of special value. 

The intormatiou and matei'ial obtained b\- lueans ot these 
field ojierations lia\-e been utilized in large [lart in the prepara- 



XXX BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

tioii of rejiort.s; other portions liavc been ailded to tlie arrliives 
for u.se in prospective investigations, while most of the oltjertive 
material has already been arranged in the National Mnsenm 
in such manner as to he accessiljle for stndv. The scientihe 
results of the work are set forth in (»tlier jiaragraphs. 

OFFICE RESEARCH 
Work in Esthetology 

During tlie greater part of the year ^Iv Frank Hamilton 
Cushing was employed in arranging and cataloguing the 
remarkable collection of relics exhumed from salt marshes in 
western Florida during the previous fiscal vear and in prejjar- 
ing his report for the jjress. The ol)jects collected embrace a 
wide varietA' of domestic implements and utensils, weapons for 
use in war and the chase, falnics for apparel and fishing, 
appurtenances to water craft, etc. In addition, tliere were 
many objects such as are used in jtrimitive 'ceremon\-, compris- 
ing elaboratcK* painted and carvi^d masks and eihgies. ^lany 
of the industrial devices ai'e jiainted and carved in a maimer 
remarkable for wealtli of imagerv and delicacy of execution. 

An important part of Mr Cushing's work was comparative 
study of the designs, in form and color, found in connection 
with the ceremonial and other objects; and substantial progress 
was maile in the inter])retation of the designs. Most of these 
are zoic. The l)ear, the wolf, the wild- cat, tlie woodpecker, 
and ditferent water l)irds and aquatic animals are represented 
in carvings and paintings with a fidelity to detail wdiich ren- 
ders them not only readilv identifiable bixt really artistic. 
Some of the efligies approach the natural size, and are attached 
to other articles in such manner as to indicate that they were 
worn as masks or crests, proltalih' in dramatic ceremonies 
analogous to those of the Indians of the pueblos and of other 
primitive peoples. These elaborate carvings are associated 
with wooden masks, .shaped to fit the face, bearing painted and 
carved designs of corresponding character, but more or less 
conventionized in form and color. The realistic or j)artiallv 
coiiveutioiiized forms displayed on the masks are imitated not 



ad.ministi;ative repokt xxxi 

<ml\' (pu other (•(■rcniiiiiial i>l)iccls liul ;ilso uu tlic imlustrial 
(levic'cs, and tlic ilciiTcc nl' (•uii\ciilii_iiiisni iiicri-ascs a> the 
iV])rc'S('Utatioiis arc i'imUkhmI in size or ilistorttMl to lit tonus 
determined bv various couditious, so that an nnlirokcn series 
of staji'es in the ih'Vi'lopuieut of conNcntion nia\ Kc traced all 
tlie wax t'roni tlie cssentialh' realistic representation of the 
animal head to the desit^ii car\ed on the arro\\>haft or toma- 
hawk handle, which, at tirst siiiht, would seem to he decorative 
merely. The se(HU'nce displayed in these t-sthetic desicns is, 
indeed, ])aralleled in other collections; iiut the remarkahh' 
rich assemlilaii'e of aboriginal handiwork from the I'doridian 
salt marshes. In which such jierishahle mat(.'riaU as wood, hone, 
plant 1il)ei', feather A\ork, paint, and e\en leathei'n thouiis are 
preserved, is espeeialh' notewortln' for the completeness of 
the .se([Uence and the larii'e munher of liidvs repi'esente(l. 
Accordiuii-K' the series of olijects would seem to estaltlish the 
view alreach' advocated hv different collahoratoi's of the 
Bureau that liii;lier esthetic decoration orit^inates in s\-ml)ol- 
ism, which ma\' jiradualK' he transt'ormed throu^ih conven- 
tionizing, either in the interests of econom\- or to meet other 
industrial conditions. 

During the previous year Dr J. Walter Fewkes made a col- 
lection of fictile ware and other aboriginal material among the 
ruins of Arizona and New i\Iexico, which was regarded as rich 
bevond ])recedent. 1 )uring the rear just closed he made explo- 
rations yielding a still larger Itody of material, w Inch has been 
subjected to preliniinar\- study, and has already been arranged 
in the Museum. As during the jn'eceding year, fictile ware 
was the predominant material. This ware is characterized l)y 
symbolic and decorative designs, represented sometimes l)y 
modeling or l)\' insci'il)ed iigures, but more coinmoid-\' bx' colors; 
and for the hrst time material has been obtained in suthcient 
(juantity to afford presumptively com})lete series of designs for 
certain grou])s of aborigines at certain periods antedating 
Caucasian invasion, so that various stages in the development 
of esthetic designs max- be ti'aced nearh' as deiiniteh' as in the 
Florida collection. In geiiei'al, the course of dexclopment 
traced in this wav is ))ai-allel to that made out on the Florida 



XXXI I BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

coast. The course of (levelopineiit is from tlie essentially 
(thoug'li often crudely) symbolic to the conventional, and 
through various stages of conventionizing- to forms and colors 
■which, at first sight, would be regarded as decorative merely, 
accordinglv the collection is important as a source of new 
light on the development of artistic concepts. At the same 
time, that course of developmental succession which it so clearlv 
attests has been used successfully in tracing- certain movements 
of the aboriginal population. It has long been known that, 
while most of the traditions of the Pueblo peoples recount 
migrations in a southerly or southeasterly direction, there are 
subordinate indications of a northerly or northeasterlv drift 
from snowless lowlands or from saline and shell-yielding shores, 
and at least one of the collaborators (Mr McGree) has found 
indications of a culture migration from the once i)opulous val- 
leys of Sonora, with adjacent refuges in the form of entrenched 
mountains, northward into the region of cliff houses, whence 
the mesa-protected Dueblos seem to have sprung-. Now, Dv 
Fewkes is al)le to trace a similar northward drift of the esthetic 
designs characterizing the aboriginal pottery of the Pueblos. 
This application of the reseai'ches in the development of 
estlietics among the American Indians is essentially new and 
is highly vsuggestive. Some of the results of the work are 
alreadv incorporated in reports prepared for j>ul)licati(m: others 
are held for comjiarison and elaboration as the rt'search 
progresses. 

While in Zufii, and afterward at 8ia, Mrs Matilda ( 'oxe 
Stevenson gave s]iecial attention to the masks and other 
regalia used in ceremonies, and, as already noted, obtained a, 
nundjer of especiallv sacred masks. She found the ceremonial 
regalia to be essentially sA-mbolic. The masks themselves rep- 
resent zoic deities, and their apj)urtenances are designed to 
express real or ideal attributes of the animals deified, while 
the associated regalia and insignia, including apparel and the 
jiaint applied to faces, bodies, and extrennties, are syndjolic of 
similar or related concepts. All of the syndjols are conveu- 
tionized in greater or less degree, vet the accompaniments of 
voice and g-esture, and even the terms of the ritual, are designed 



ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XXXIII 

to eni]iliasi/.e tlic s\-nil)(ilisin, i. c, to ('(Hicciitrato attiMitimi on 
tlic idea s\-iiil(olizt'(l ami (li\('rt attcutum tVuiii flit- (•(nuen- 
tidiiisiii. 

l*iiniai'il\' tlic (H-ixMiumies and rciialia m\- di"ainaturi;ic, and 
tlie iisi' ot' the iiKin- iiupditaiit regalia is limited to the cere- 
monial representation: \et to some extent tlie m^■stic•al or 
sacred eliaracteristics are snpposed to (ding to the actors in 
the mystical drama, and in some measure ati'ect their every- 
day lite; sometimes tlie actors are therel)\- strengthened in 
their positions as shamans, and thev, as well as others, maA" 
continue to wear the less im]K)rtant regalia, or carr\' ahout 
their persons miniature syinlxds of the specially deific objects. 
In this wav the devotional sentiment and the symbolism in 
wliieli it is crystallized are ex])ressed in evervda\' life and 
commonplace manners: and the devotion and sA-ndiolism iind 
some expression in ordinary handiwork and still clearer 
ex])ression in the more unusual handiwork iuvohed in making 
and decorating the many articles connected with ceremonial 
rites. The oliservations are liighh' signiticant., in tliat thev 
indicate the characteristics and the dominant intluence of 
devotional sentiment among primitive peoples; the\' are espe- 
cially useful, too, in that tiiey aid in interpreting the symbolism 
depicted on prehistoric relics and corroborate the interj)retations 
already rendered. 

lu 1S77 Mr E. W. Nelson, an acute observer and trained 
naturalist, was connnissioneil to make colleetions for the United 
States National Museum in Alaska and adjacent tei'ritoi'\' in 
North America and Asia. In conne<-tion with other duties, he 
was authorized to make ethnologic studies and collections 
among the Kskimo and other Indians at the cost of the Bureau 
soon after its institution. lie spent some \cars among tin- 
tribes, obtaining vocaludaries and otiier linguistic material and 
making large collections of esthetic and industri;d liandiwork. 
He also pre})ared a preiiminarx' draft of a repoiT on tlie eth- 
nology of the region covered b^- his operations. ( )n his return 
to Washington the collections were transferreil to tlu' National 
Museum, but failure of health ])revented him from (•ompleting 
the preparation of the rejjort, so that the collections iia\ e hith- 

18 ETH III 



XXXIV BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

erto reniainiHl without ade(]uat(_i explanation. Durini;- tlie pres- 
ent iiscal year he returned to Washing-ton from a prohinged 
absence, chiefly in Mexico, and at once undertook the com- 
pletion of the long-delayed report. Through the coln•tes^• of 
Museum officials the collection was brought together for 
renewed study and the preparation of necessary illustrations. 
]VIr Nelson's original manuscripts were placed in his hands . 
and, before leaving the city in April, he had practically com- 
pleted a general jiaper with illustrations of ty])ical ol)jects rep- 
resenting the handicraft of the hyperborean ti-il)es with whom 
he came in contact during his sojourn aljout the Arctic border. 
The memoir is particularly valuable in its full description and 
illustration of the decorative designs characterizing Eskimo 
art. The Eskimo are distinctive in many res])ects, but in none 
more strongly than in their artistic development; they are 
clever draftsmen and fairly deft carvers of wood, bone, and 
ivory; man^' (if their imidemeiits, wea])ons, and utensils ai'e 
graved with artistic devices or sculjjtured in artistic forms, and 
the graving and carving ajjparently represent a highly conven- 
tionized syndjolism. Mr Nelson's motive is accurate descrip- 
tion and faithful illustration of objects rather than analysis and 
synthetic ari-angement of designs; yet his memoir is a rich 
repository of material fi-oni which the course of develo])inent 
represented b^' Eskimo art may l)e traced. It is appended to 
this report. 

Work in Technoloov 

While in contact with the Passama(|Uoddy Indians on the 
coast of Maine, the Director and Mr Gushing had opportunity 
for studying certain jjrimitive industries yet retained b}' this 
partially accultured people. Conspicuous among these were 
the industries connected with the building and furnishing of 
domicils. The long jiersisteiice of domiciliary industries 
among these Indians may be explained, at least in }iart, liy the 
fact that the birch-bai'k wigwams arc remarkabl}- serviceable 
and economical, so that they Avere only slowly displaced by 
the little more connuodious and much more expensive houses 
of civilization. At the same time, there are strong indications 
of ceremonial observances in connection with the erection of 



ADMINISTKA'l'IVE REPORT XXXV 

lial)it;iti(»ns, wliicli (Iniilillcss scr\c tn jiroldiiy;' tlic I'crcntidii of 
tlic nliiiri^'iiKil t \]i('. 

'I'lici'c is ;i single iiiodt'l tor tlie (Iwelliugs of this IiimikIi of 
tlic AliioiKiiiiau Iiiiliaiis, Tlu' structure is rcctan^i'iihii- in plan, 
alioiif 12 \)y If) tccr, with a narrow dooi'waN" in one ciul. Tlio 
t'lul walls staiul \crrical, while the sides, after rising' \ crticall y 
tor f) oi" (i feet, are continued upward to form a curved roof, 
iuterrupt<Ml h\- an orifice o^•el• the center of the earthen floor 
for the exit ot smoke. The traniework is of light arl)or-\it;e 
poles, neatl\' cut and shajieil 1)\' stone implements and fire, the 
iipriii'lits set in the ground and lashed to the horizontal })ieces 
1)\' means of withes or splints. The walls and i-oofs are made 
fi'oni large sections of birch-hai'k, cai'cfullv overlapped shingle- 
wise and skilfully sewn together with slender splints of ash. 
The door is a dressed deerskin attached to a light crossliar, 
while the smoke-hole is pro\ided with a shifting wind-guard 
whitdi mav l)e so adjusted as to draw out the smoke and exclude 
most of the rain or snow in case of storm. The wigwam con- 
structed in this wav is practicallx' wind proof and nearU' rain 
proof, strong enough to resist the force of storms and the weight 
of winter's snow, and is capacious and counnodious in ahnost the 
highest possible degree in proportion to the material emj)loyed 
in construction. It lasts five vears or more without repairs, 
and with occasional repairs as neeileil ]\\;\y last a genei'ation. 
As a, means of stucUing the house and house liuilding, two 
aged Indians were emploved to set up a wigwam lu-ai- the ti(dd 
of work in Maiine, and with a view of extending the studv and 
at the same time perpetuating this foi-m of aboriginal handi- 
craft, they were afterward engaged to re-erect and furnish the 
structure in Washington. It was at first (h'signed to place it 
in the National .Museum, but in ^iew of the limitations of space 
it was aft(n-ward decide(l to locate the l)uilding in the National 
Zoological Park. 

While su})ervising the work of the Indians on the wigwam, 
the Director and ^Ir Cushing oliserved them using a curved 
knit'e, held in the hand with the Idade jii-ojecting toward tlm 
l)ody (the handle being Hatteneil to lit the face of the tlnunb, 
by which the attitude of the curxcd blade is controlled), and 



XXXVI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

drawn toward the body in use; and the resembhxnee of the 
implement to that found among the primitive peoples of Japan 
and the similarity in use were at once noted. At the same 
time Mr Cushing, who was fresh from the tidal marshes of 
Florida in which curved knives of shell are entond^ed, was 
enabled to interpret more clearly the Floridian shell knives 
and tooth knives, and infer the manner of their use, ■\\hich 
must have been prevailingly centripetal or inward, rather than 
centrifugal or outward from the body like the tools of civili- 
zation. This simple discovery throws strong light on the 
develoi)ment of primitive industries, and removes difficulties 
hitherto encountered in the interpretation of primitive imple- 
ments and workman.ship. Then, on examining the shell mounds 
and house mounds on the Maine coast, Mr Gushing was enabled 
to explain the occurrence of certain split teeth of the beaver 
found in such associations as to suggest haliitual use; for he 
found, on attaching them to handles similar to those of the 
curved knives, that they constituted surprisingly effective 
implements for shaving and carving wood, for opening the 
skins and severing the tissues of animals, and indeed for per- 
forming all of the nnxltifarious functions of the knife. At once 
it became e^'ident that the Ijeaver- tooth knife was much more 
efficient, and among hunters more economical in making and 
carrving, than the knife of chipped stone; and, on investigat- 
ing the historv of the curved steel knives made by smiths for 
the Indians in accordance with their own designs, it became 
evident that the beaver-tooth knife was the i)rototype of that 
in use by the tribesmen today. xVt the same time, the con- 
nection between the shell knife of the Florida coast and the 
beaver-tooth knife of the Maine coast seemed so close as to 
indicate similarity in origin, the animal substance used in each 
case being that possessing at once the advantages of accessi- 
bility and of economy in manutaeture and use. 

Connected in bearing witli the foregoing researches are those 
conducted during the year by Mr W J McGee. During pre- 
vious years he visited the Seri Indians of the Gulf of Califor- 
nia and collected various specimens of their handicraft. The 
collection comprises a series of stone implements, of which a 



ADMINISTKATIVE REPORT XXXVII 

number were observo<l in use, representing' a stage in the devel- 
opnient of stone art wliicli lias hitherto l)een obscure. Initially, 
tliese inijtleiuents are natural pehbles [licked up I'roui among 
tile (|Uantities of siuiilar jielililes shingling the lieach; N'etihev 
are useil for l)reaking the shells of crustaceans; tor crushing 
bones ot" tish, t'oAvl, ami aniuials; tor pounding apart the tough 
tissues of larger aniuials; or perchance tor crushing and grind- 
ing niesipiite beans, cactus seeds, and other \cgetal sub- 
stances. ()rigiuall\ selected almost at random, the stone is 
eommouK' used but once and then thrown awaA-; but, if the 
habitation happens to be located neai', the titter stones ai'e used 
o\'er and o\-er again, perhaps pi-n\ing so ser\iceablo that when 
the always tenijiorary residence is changed thev are cari-ied 
awaA' as a part of the domestic j)ropert\' of the matron. 
K\'eutuall\' the stoUe becomes b:iftere(l ;nid worn l)\- use, so 
that its shape is changed; then, if rendere(l less usefid bv the 
chang-e, it is thrown awa\', ■\\diile, if made more serviceable, it 
is retained to become a highly esteemed ])ieee of i^ropertv, 
always carried liy the matron in her wanderings and l)uried 
with her body at death. The series of implements collected, 
and the much larger series seen in Seriland, l)ut not collected, 
.show no trace of ])redeterniined design in form or tiuish. The 
implements are fairly uniform in size, apparentK' be<-ause the 
users arefairlx' uniform in strength and the uses fairU- uniform 
in force required, and thev an; fairly iniiform in shape because 
of similarity in applications; but as a. whole the series is char- 
acterized b\- absence of design, 1)\- fortuitous adaptaliou rather 
than that complex invention represeute(l b\- e\'eii the simplest 
cliijipiug (ir flaking. The culture stage represented b^- the 
series has already l)een designated iirololitli'ic. It is tobe note<l ' 
that the Seri Indians have no other stone iiidustr\-, .save a little 
known and apparently accultural custom of chipping stone for 
the sole ])nrpose of making arrowpuiuts, and that their knives, 
scrapers, awls, ne<'dles, an<l oi-diuar\' arrowpoints are made 
from shell, bone, wood, and other substances ot' organic origin. 
Now, on asseinliling the industrial ile\ices of the blorida 
marshes, the Maine sludl moiiuils, tln' Seri Indians, and the 
more primiti\f sur\i\()rs ot' the .\lg<iii([iiian ti-ihes locate<l iu 



XXXVIII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

the Elaine Avoods, and eomiiaring thesie witii the ci irre^poiKhng 
devices of the American tril)es generally, it is found that the 
industries involving the use of stone for implements or weapons 
fall into a highly significant order, which, despite some over- 
lapi^ing of phases, seems to represent the normal course of 
industrial evolution. The first stage is that in which stone is 
used in natural or fortuitous comlition, without ])redeterinined 
design or invention, as among the Seri Indians; this is the 
protoVdh'ic stage. It is iioteworth\' that, in the typical case, and 
presumptively in others, the prevailing industrial devices of 
this stage are of organic material and approach in form and 
function the biotic armament of lower animals. They are the 
readiest substitutes for, and the direct analogues of, teeth and 
claws. The second stage is that represented by wrought stone, 
shaped largel\' or wholly in accordance with predetermined 
design, whether by battering (undoubtedly the original method) 
or by fiaking and chipping; it may be called the techiioliiliic 
stage. This stage is represented liy most of the x\merican 
tribes. It is clearh' to be noted that this arrangement of stages 
in the development of primitive industry is based wholly on 
research among the American Indians and among the relics of 
their prehistoric ancestors. It is not designed to supjilant or 
discredit classifications based on the industrial devices t)f other 
countries. It is constructive and not destructive, and is formu- 
lated merely as a contribution to scientific knowledge concern- 
ing the aborigines of the Western Hemisphere. 

Another line of research in technology, conducted chiefly 
during the year, though the results were incorporated in a 
pa})er accomjianying a preceding report, relates to primitive 
surgery and medicine. The work, which was l)ased on a col- 
lection of Peruvian crania, was conducted by ]\Ir McGee. Its 
details are significant, in that the interpretations are based on 
the ])rimitive sophiology known to have prevailed among the 
aborigines uj) to the time of Caucasian invasion, rather than 
on the more realistic philosophy hy which civilized practi- 
tioners are guided. The stages of development of curative 
surgical treatment, as traced in the course of the researches, 
need not be repeated; suffice it to say that the investigation 



ADMINISTKATIVE REPORT XXXIX 

apjiciu-s til illuininc the prcviuiisK- (il)scurc oi'iLi-in nt' snriiXTV, 
ami at tlu* same time In llirow iiiiicli liiilit oil the oriLi'in and 
di'VclopniL'iit of nifdical treatment in general. 

In earlier ])araL;Ta])lis sunnnariziny the restdfs o\' researches 
cnnccrninL;- the nrii^in and de\-elnjiiiient of the arts, incidental 
alhisidn is made tn the intimate relation lietwi'en the esthetic 
anil the iiidnstrial. 'The relation is donlih — indeed, manifold — 
and reciprocal. In thi- fu'st place, the iudnstrial device is iisiiallv 
a medium foi- esthetic devices, L:'ra\ed or carved or painted 
upon it, nsvialh' as s\iii1)olic in\'ocations to m\'stical powers 
where))}' the etiiciencx- of the implement or utensil ma\- be 
auj^mented: while, in the second place, the execution of the 
esthetic devic(.'s constitutes an important and, in some lands, 
ajjparently a preponderant part, of tlir occupation of primitive 
people. Accordinii'ly, the reseai-ches in esthetuloyv, carrieil 
forward dnriiiL;- the ^'ear li\' \arious col]al)orators, inclndin<>- 
Messrs ("iishin;^-, l-'i-wkes, and \elson, and .Mrs 8teA'enson, 
]ia\e thi'own liiiht on the nioti\es and other causes underKdny 
industi'ial development. 

Work ix Socioixuiy 

In continniuL;' the examination and di^-estion of material col- 
lected during;- the eighteen years of the existence of the Jhu'eau, 
the Director has o-iven special attention to the ])rinciples luider- 
lyiuii' the social organization of the Anu'rican al)orii;-ines. A 
portion ot' the results are sunnnarized in a chapter ()U Reg'imen- 
tation incorporated in a preceding;- report. I'he researches are 
still in ])roo-i-t'ss. 

^Ir \\ J Mc(u'e has continued tin- comparative studv of 
social organization with s|ieclal referencM' to the Seri and 
Papago Indians. In the former trilie the social organization 
a))pears to rest wholly on kinship traced through the female 
line; and on<' of the cousetpiences of this organization and of 
the jjeculiar isolation of tlu^ jieople is found in a singular mar- 
riag'e custom, which has heen noted in pre\"ious reports. TIk; 
Papago Indians, on the other hand, have an organization 
based primari]\- on kinship traced in the male line, Imt dis- 
playing also certain indications of transition into some such 



XL BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

artificial system as that which, on further devehjpment, matures 
in civilization, i. e., sometimes the gentes are imited in such 
maimer that a single kinship group combines two totems; the 
kinship terminologv is incomplete in such way as to suggest 
curtailment through disuse; through seasonal migrations and 
other causes there is a constant l^reaking up of family groups, 
followed l)y intermingling in new combinations in the form of 
colonies of })atriarclial or even feudalistic character; there is 
clear recognition of patriarchal jjroperty right in the waters in 
which the material A'alues of their arid territory inhere; while 
the governmental control, though nominally vested in patri- 
archal shamans, is really regulated by an officer selected 
through ])opular approval, who may be designated the people's 
attorney. It is noteworthy that the Spanish invaders of the 
Western Hemisphere assimilated the aboriginal much more 
completely than the Anglo-Saxon invaders of more northerly 
regions, so that in many instances the social institutions pre- 
vailing in Mexico today have sprung from aboriginal germs. 
This is esjjecially true of the patriarchal organization charac- 
teristic of the ^lexican provinces remote from the greater cities 
and railways, which differs in no essential particular from the 
organization still found among the Papago Indians and recorded 
in their time-honored traditions. 

Now, the comparative studies of the Seri and Papago social 
organizations, with the analogue of the latter among the mod- 
ern Mexicans, gives o})portunity for clearing uj) certain misap- 
])rehensions concerning primitive society. In bai'baric culture, 
in which descent is reckoned in the male line, the govern- 
mental control is vested in an elder man (whose seniority may 
be either real or assumed), so that the organization is patriarchal; 
and it has been inferred, without adequate observation and 
with midue influence growing out of the convenience of anti- 
thetic terms, that in savage culture, in which descent is reck- 
oned in the female line, the social organization is matriarchal. 
The case of the Seri Indians is perhaps the most striking among 
many examples, indicating that, even when descent is traced 
exclusively through the female line to the extent that the father 
has no control over his wife's property or his own children, the 



ad:ministrative report xl: 

trihnl control is, ncNci-tliclcss, vcsTcil in iiinlc rulers, who may 
lie cither shamans ot' cxcc|itional shre\\<lness, oi- wari-iors (if 
exceptional valor and oiinnini;'. Acoordiniily the term "niatrl- 
arclial" can be re<>-arded as erroneous and misleading- onlv when 
a])|ilied to this culture stage. This liecomcs especialh" clear in 
the lii;ht of the oliservations amonii' the I'apaii-o Indians and 
the mixed-hlodd Mexicans, in which the rule is pati'iarchal, hut 
in which there is an associated mati'iarcln', for the wife of the 
patriai'ch occupies a position amon^' the women and children 
of the group oorresjKinding- to that of her spouse, jn'iuiarilv 
among the men, hut secondarily among all; so that patriarchy 
and matriarchy are in reality complementary aspects of that 
culture stage in which descent is traced in the male line. (Jon- 
fusion is avoided })V designating the more primitiye organiza- 
tion as iiiafcnial and the more advanced as paterual, and by 
restricting the terms ])atriarchal and matriarchal to their legit- 
imate functions, as indicated by the usage of southwestern ])eo- 
ples. The details of the researches on this subject are too 
extended for summary statement; but the princijiles developed 
through the study are important as a means of interpreting 
observation and thus guiding s[)ecial research and contrilmting 
to scientific knowledge of the aborigines. The work is still 
in progress. 

AVoRK IN I'niLOLoOY 

Linguistic studies were pushed forward energetically during 
the earlier years of the existence of the Bui-eau, partly as a 
means of classifying the Indians in such manner as to guide 
grouping- on reservations. ^V considerable portion of the mate- 
rial collected \v!is, aftei- the immediate practical use, ])laced on 
file for com]iai-ison and stnd\' with a \\r\x to the discover\' of 
the principles of linguistic de\clopment. During the fiscal 
year the Director has i-e\iewed these records in conjunction 
with those pertaining to sociolog\' and soj)hiology, and has 
mad(^ progress in developing ihe pi-Iuciples nf philolog^• and 
applying them to the (4hnic pi-oblems ])resentcd 1)\- the Ameri- 
can aborigines. In primiti^"e societx' language grows in two 
ways: On the one hand there is a steady em'ichment and ilill'er- 
entiation due to the coining of expressions for new idea>; on 



XLII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHXOLO(iY 

the otlier liaud there is a spasmodie eiirichmeiit and modifiea- 
tioii, lioth ill teniis and in gTaniniatie structure, produced hy the 
shock of contact (whether peaceful or inimical) with other 
peoples — the changes conse(|uent on concj[uest being especiallv 
important, as has lieen sliown liy diftereiit philologists. At the 
same time both the lexic and the structural forms — i. e., both 
words and sentences — are simplified through the natural tend- 
ency toward econonn' in exjii'ession. These and other proc- 
esses connected with the growth of Imiguai^e have been 
indicated in some detail in earlier reports. 

Now, on examining the aboriginal languages of America, it 
is found that many of them are interrelated in such manner as 
to indicate specific courses of development, and in all such 
cases the dominant process has been the union or blending of 
more or less diverse elements, both lexic and structural. This 
1 (lending can be explained only as a record of intertrilial con- 
tact, and the cases are so numerous — indeed, the\" are charac- 
teristic of all of the al (original t((ngues — as t(( indicate that 
practically all of the native languages have been built u}) and 
shaped chiefly by the c((mbinatioa and blending of antece- 
dently distinct and presumptively discrete tongues. This con- 
clusion as t(( tile development of oral speech in America is 
corrob((rated l(^■ the simpler ]iist((ry ((f the development of the 
so-called gesture speech, which was widely used liy tlie Indians 
as a partial substitute for, and convenient supplement to, ((ral 
speech as an intertribal language. When the course <(f devel- 
opment ascertained by these comparisons is so extended as to 
aj(p]y to the entire assemblage ((f native American jieoples, it 
at (dice becomes evident that the sixty linguistic stocks and five 
hundred dialects extant at the time of the discovery (themselves 
the product of long-continued C((mbiiiation and blending of 
distinct tongues, as the researclies have shown) are indubital:)le 
records of still more numerc(us and still UKd'e widely distinct 
languages ((f an earlier time, and the more carefully the record 
is scanned the more numerous and the iiKd'e distinct do the 
original components appear. It is accordingl}' a necessary 
inference that a large number of distinct, albeit simple if not 
inchoate, tonii'ues originally existed in North America, and that 



ADMIXISTRATIYE REPORT XLIII 

the snl)S('(|Uciit liistorA' Ims l>ccu cliicHv niic oi' liiii^-uistic iiitc- 
jiTatidii. It is ;i cui-iilhirx- ot' tliis jin ipi isitinii, wliicli is liiir the 
geiKTiilizatlon d' all knuwn tacts rclatiiiu' lo the al)(>riii-iiial 
lan<>'ua,u'(*s of Anifrica. that the Wcsrci'ii I Icinisplicrc must liaxc 
been iictiplcd li\- ilic ancestors ot' the iiHMlcrii Imlian trilirs 
hetniv the liirtli <it' laii^uaLic anion;:' tlicni. Hutli the main 
pro])osition ami tlic corollarx' run (■(lUiUcr to (-arlicr opinions 
entertained in this and otlicr countries: xct the\- are not only 
sustained li\' the nn[)recedeiitedl\' i"ich collection ut' liut^nistic 
facts ])reser\('d in the ]^)ureau archixes or pnlilished in the 
rejjorts, hut 1)\' the cnnmlati\c e\i(lence obtained through the 
researches concernini;' the arts, industries, institutions, and 
beliefs of the American aliorij^ines. A more detailecl rejiort 
on this subject is in prejiaratioii. 

Dr Albert S. Gatscliet has continued the collection of lin- 
eiiistic mati'rial pertainiuii' to the Ali;-oii(|uian Indians, and has 
niaile proL;ress in the preparation of the coiuparati\i- dictiuuarv 
of .Vl,L;'ou(inian terms. The lU'W niati'rial collecteil durini;' the 
\e;\v was ohtaliieil cliieri\" among- the l'assaina(piod(h' Indians 
living in the woods of Maine and adjacent parts of New 
Brunswick. Adv;uitage was taken of an ()pportinut\- to oUtain 
a Nez Perce vocabtilary, representing the Shahaptian stock, 
from Lewis D. Williams, an educated member of the trii)e, 
who spent some inoi:ths in \\ ashingtuu during' the earlier part 
of the tiscal Acar. 'idiis record is det-med of special \alne, 
not iiid\- in that it is more complete than thosi' rt/preseiitiiig 
the same stock alread\" on tile, but in that it atfords means of 
checking and clearing up (loid)tful ])oints in the earlier i-ecords. 

Ill addition to collecting a rich body of material relating to 
tlie languages and beliefs of several Inxjuoian tril)es, ]\Ir .l.X. H. 
Hewitt made consideralile jirogress in the sxstematic arrange- 
ment of material cdllected during jireceding A'ears. ( »ne of 
the more important lines ol' his wurk was a stud\- of the pro- 
noun with special reference to its function in primitive lan- 
guage and its relation to other ])arts of speech. His researches 
indicate with gi'eater (dearness than others hitherto conducted 
that the pronoun occupies a, nnich more prominein position in 
primitive speecdi than in the highlv developed languages of 



XLIV BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

cultured peoples. The preparation of a special paper on the 
subject was commenced toward the end of the year. Another 
line of work by Mr Hewitt, originating in the collection of 
niythologic texts, was a comparative stud^' of the creation 
niytlis of different Iroquoian and Algonquian tribes. The pre- 
liminary results of this study are especially signiiicant in their 
bearing on conclusions derived from the study of language. 
On comparing half a dozen versions of tlie Indian cosmogony 
he was able to detect unmistakable indications of interchange 
of such sort as to prove that originally independent mvths 
have undergone consideral)le coalescence and blending, so that 
the myth, like the speech in which it is crystallized, is a com- 
posite of many elements. Coupled with the features indicating 
coalescence there are indeed certain features indicating differ- 
entiation, chiefly in the direction recjuired to adjust the mvthic 
personages to the local faima; but the indications of differen- 
tiation are far subordinate to the e\adence of coalescence or 
integration. A numljer of tvpical mytlis representing the 
aborigines of the northeastern United States have been brought 
together with a view to publication so soon as the general 
discussion is completed. 

Work in Sophiology 

The scope and extent of the researches in sophiology dur- 
ing the fiscal year are -in some measure set forth in the 
foregoing paragi-aphs; for the various demotic activities are 
interdependent, and neither ai'ts, industries, institutions, nor 
languages can be developed without the concomitant develop- 
ment of opinions, whether mythic or rational. Important 
additions to tlie material representing the symbolism and cere- 
monies of the Indians have been made tlu-ough the labors of 
Mr Gushing in Florida, Dr Fewkes and Mrs Stevenson in Ari- 
zona and New Mexico, Dr Gatschet in Maine, and Mr Hewitt 
in New York and Ontario, as already noted. Mr James 
]\k)oney continued his researches relating to the Kiowa Indi- 
ans, giving special attention to their heraldic and calendric 
svstems, and to the use of peyote in their ceremonies. It is 
well known that dreams and visions, commonly indiiced by 
fasting, play an important role in connection with the beliefs 



ADMINISTRATIVK REPORT XI.V 

iuiil rclij^'ioiis tisaji'cs of |iriiiiitiAc pcojilcs; it is known also 
that anions;' soiiif jicoplcs drills arc used to iiitcnsitx the 
abuornial condition attended bv visions; but there is ])i-olial)l\- 
no better examule ot" this custom than tliat afforded b\ tlie 
Kiowa and some neig'ldxirinii' trilx-s in tlieii' nsc ot' ]pf\ote. 
The mental effects of the (hniii- ai'e something- like tliose |iro- 
duced bv hashisJi; its intluence is so stroui;- and so certain that 
tlie Indians using it have come to reh' on it t'oi- the ]iiodu(tiou 
of the ecstatic state regarded as essential to the pi'oper per- 
forniance of their ceremonial rites, while, in turn, the I'ites 
have l)een so adjusted to the effects ])roduced bv the drug that 
they are, in Mr Moone^■'s opinion, conipletelv dependent on 
it for tiieir existence. Although tlie researches concerning the 
sid)ject are not complete, preliniinar\' announcements ha^■e 
been made concerning the results of st-ieutitic exaniiuatitin of 
pevote and concerning its infiuence on the religious practices 
of the tril)e. 

In c<_»nnection with his work on this subject, Mr ^looney 
completed during the vear a memoir on the Kiowa calendar 
system, which has been incorporated in the seventeenth annual 
report. This memoir is deemed noteworthy as a remarkably 
exhaustive rendering of what niav be called the autol)io- 
gi'a])hic historv of an important tril)e. 

In his (•oni]iarati\'e studies of tlie Seri, J'apago, and other 
tribes, Mr Mcdee was lei I to considei' the com-se of develop- 
ment of mvth, or of the explanation of phenomena in terms 
of the supernatural. It is significant that, so far as can be 
ascertained, supernatui-alism is a more potent factor in deter- 
mining' conduct among the warlike 8eri than among the jieace- 
ful Papago, and the examination of other tribes indicates that 
the relation is general — i. e., that the tendency toward super- 
natural explanation, witli its concomitant effect on conduct, is 
graduallv rectified b\- intertribal contact in a manner akin to 
that in which mvths and languages are blended. The studies 
are still in ])rogress. 

Dkscriptivk Kthnolooy 

The jireparatioii of niatei'ial for the ( S'clopeilia of Indian 
Tribes was continued durint;- the \ear under the iiiimediato 



XLVI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

su})ervisioii of Mr F. AV. Hodi^'c. As other duties |)ermitted, 
Mr Hodge continued extractin<>- and ])lucing- on cards material 
relating to the Pueblo Indians and other southwestern trilies. 
The greater ])art of the work on the cyclopedia performed 
during the j^ear was that of Dr Thomas, who continued and 
nearlv completed the i-evision, extension, and final arrange- 
inent of the voluminous body of material relating to the 
Algonquian Indians, the largest and most diversified of the 
aboriginal stocks of the territory t»f the United States. In 
his detailed report Dr Thomas acknowledges gratefully the 
facilities afforded by several libraries of the national capital, 
esj)ecially the Library of Congress, whose rich store of 
rare literature has been most courteously made accessible 
b}" Librarian Ainsworth R. Spofford. Some additions to the 
cyclopedia were made also by other collaborators, particularly 
Mr ]\Iooney. 

lillfLIOORAPHY 

The l)ibliographic work of tlie Biu-enu was inteiTupted in 
18!I5 bv the death t>f James C Pilling, who had j)rcpared a 
series of reports on the literature relating to the languages 
of several aboriginal stocks (which were issued as bulletins 
during preceding years), and who had partialh' completed a 
similar re})ort concerning the al)original languages of Mexico. 
During the last fiscal "vear an arrangement was made whereby 
this portion, at least, of the bibliographic work may be com- 
pleted. The task was generoush' undertaken by Mr George 
Parker Winship, librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, 
in Providence, alread\' a contributor of valuable material to 
the Bureau. Mr Winship began operations toward the end of 
the year. The material pertaining to Mexico, brought together 
by Mr Pilling, was transferred to his custody, and by the end 
of tin- year he was able to report sul)stantial progress in the 
work. 

Collecting 

The chief work of the A'ear in tliis department was that of 
Dr J. Walter Fewkes. Already in the field at the beginning 
of the fiscal Aear, Dr Fewkes in-oceeded to an extensive ruin 



ADMIXISTRATIVE REPORT XI.VII 

on ( 'licvldii fork of Little ( 'oloradd i-i\ cr. ciii-In' in .Inly. l>;iTfr 
lie ('X<':i\ .-ircil inidtlicr niiii nt' iiii| k isin^;' ilinicnsidus nc:ii- ( "li;i\('s 
])iiss. His work was siicccssfnl lic\ und |inM-cilfnr, vieldinti- oii(3 
ot'tlif lincsi and most cxtciisiNc collccrions ol' alioi'iyinnl lictile 
wai'c and a>SMciatcd arlit'acts cn-ci- made in tlic Fuitcd States. 
As noteil in earlier |iaraL;rai>lis. llie material is es|)ecial]\- rieh 
in s\-ndinlie jiaiinini;- anil other e\j)ressions ut the remai'kalile 
reliji'ious Ix-liet's <>( the i'uehlo [icdples duriiiii- prehistdric times. 
^V notewortliN' collection uf ceremonial masks was made at 
Ziifii and Sia l)v ^Ivs Matilda t'oxe Stevenson, and has been • 
dnlv installed in tlie National ^[useum. Tn the conrse of his 
field ojierations, A[i- ^[oonex' obtained ad(h'tional material illus- 
tratini;' the liandiwork and ideas of the Kiowa Indians: nnd 
toward the (dose of the tiscal ^'ear, while tem]ioraril\- detaile(l 
to make and arrange collections for the Tennessee Centennial 
Ex])ositioii at Nashville, he In'oiiLi'lit to<>-etlier and, with the aid 
of th(- Indians, constrncte(l an exliihit showinL;- in miniature 
th(f charactei'istics of the Kiowa caiup-circde, the sii;'nilicance 
of whi(di is not i;-enerallv nnderstood. 'J'oward the end of the 
vear Mr Ilatcdier I'eported the transmission of a small collec- 
tion representing tlu' j)riiniti\'e industries of the aborigines of 
southern I'atagonia. In April Mr Mc(fee obtained an interest- 
ing (-(dlection of aboriginal matting and wooden wari' fi-om the 
Mnsknaki Indians, lu^ar Tama, Iowa. Th<^ greater part of 
the collection has been transfenvd to the Mnsenm. A.mong the 
articles is a c;n-\'eil wooden dish coi-responding in t'orm, dimen- 
sions, and <irnamentation with an earthenwai-e t^■pe fre(|iientlv 
fonnd in the monnds. The specimen is of peculiar interest in 
that its t'oi-m was determined b\- the cnr\-eil beaNcr-tooth knite 
with whicii it \\as t'asliioned and in that its esoteric and esseii- 
tiallx' prescri])torial s\iubolism was ascertained, so that it 
ex])lains one of the most pei'sistent foi-nis of al)oi-iginal wai'e. 
Several other collaborators made minor collections, and a few 
Others were ac(|uired t'rom correspondents. ( )ne of these i> a 
series of iron tomahawk pijies, made for the Indian trade b\' 
the French pionf^^rs and long used b\- the tril)esmen in lieu 

of the aboriginal weapons of stone, sh(dl, w 1, ami coppei'; 

another was a i)articularl\' line collection olttaineil from 



XLVIII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

the mounds of ^lissouvi ami the adjoining- part of Ilhnois by 
Colonel V. F. Hilder; still another was a series of stone 
implements from the momids of northern Ohio, which are 
regarded as especially desirable for purposes of comp;irative 
study in the National Museum. 

Publication 

^Ir Hodge has remained in charge of the details of publi- 
cation, and it is gratifying to be alile to report activity, almost 
beyond precedent in the history of the Bureau, in this branch 
of the work. At the lieginning of the year the Fourteentli 
Annual Report was ])artly in type, the Fifteenth was in the 
printer's hands, and proofs of illustrations had been received. 
The Sixteenth Report was in nearly the same condition. The 
editorial work was pushed forward successfully. A])out the 
end of the calendar -vear the Fourteenth Report was issued, 
in two volumes, and the distril)vition was at once commenced. 
The demand for the document was unprecedented, so that the 
edition was practically exhausted within three months. It 
may be observed that this report was more extensively noticed 
and reviewed, both in scientific journals and the ephemeral 
press, than any })receding publication by the Bureau, and that 
the tone of the reviews has been favorable or still more highly 
commendatory, without exception so far as known. Meantime 
the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Reports received constant atten- 
tion, and botli were completed and published about the end of 
the fiscal year. The demand for these documents also is 
pressing, and thev, too, are being favorably received by the 
reviewers. 

The maiuiscript of the Seventeenth Annual Repoit was 
transmitted for publication on June 18, 1897. The accompany- 
ing papers comprise "The Seri Indians," by W J McGee; 
"Calendar History of the Kiowa Indians," l)y James Mooney; 
"Navaho Houses," by Cosmos Mindeleft'; together with a fully 
illustrated account of an " Archeological Expedition to Arizona 
in 1895," by J. Walter Fewkes. 

The material for the Eighteenth Report also was brought 
together, and the editorial work was well advanced before the 
end of the year. It is accompanied b)^ two memoirs, each of 



ADMINISTKATIVE HEPOKT XLIX 

C(>usi(lcnil)le luaguitLKle, su that it Ixhhuiu'S U(jcussar\' to issue it 
in t\^(> voliuiK's. The first of these is "The Eskimo xVbout 
P)eriiiL;' Strait," hv K. W. Nelson, and tlie otlier is the memoir 
on ■•Imlian Land C'essimis in the I'nited States," 1)\' ( '. ( '. 
liovce, witli an introduetion hv Cvrus 'I'honias, wiiieh lias 
been described in earlier reports. The former is fid Iv illustrated 
b\- photouraphs and drawing's, representing the jieople and the 
extensive (■(illeetions made by Mr Nelson; the latter is aecoiu- 
[lanied b\- nuincnius maps. 

MiSCEI.LAXKOUS 

Librart/. — The additions u< the win-kiui:- librar\' of the 
Bureau were luipreeedeiited in number and value, jiarticularly 
in respect to .standard works of reference; meantime the nor- 
mal arowth due to acce.ssions through exchange has continued. 
At the close .of the fiscal vear the contents of the lil)rarv 
comprised 7,138 volumes, in addition to several thousand 
pamphlets and periodicals. 

T//t(strcitioti.i. — During the eai'lier part of the year the j)rep- 
aration of illustrations for re})orts was continued under the 
direction of Mr DeLancev W.Gill, the ])hot()graphic work being 
executed by Mr William Dinwiddie. Toward the end of the 
calendar year Mr Dinwiddie retired from the Ihireaii, and on 
Januar\' 1 Mr Wells 31. Saw\er, formerh' of the Geological 
Survev, was ])laced iu charge of the illustrative work, includ- 
ing photography. This arrangement has been found sati.s- 
factor\', and the illustrative work is now carried forward 
acceptablv in all of its phases. .Mr Henry AValther has aided 
Mr Sawver etficieiitl\- in cataloguing and classifving negatives 
and prints, as well as iu jiiiotographic printing. 

Exliih'iis. — As note(l incidentally iu earlier jiaragraphs, an 
exhibit was prejian-d fm- the Tennessee Centennial E.xposition 
in Nasln ille. It comprises half of a Kiowa camj)-circle, repre- 
sented iu miniature, occupying a semicircular area with a 
radius of about 20 feet in a central jiortion of the OJovernment 
Building. The installation of the material was completed in 
time for the formal opening, ami Iict'orc the eiid of the liscal 
year it became e\'ident that tiie dis]ila\' will Ije geiierallv 
regarded as attractive and successfid. 

18 ETH IV 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



FINANCIAL STATFJIENT 

A])pr()i)riation liy Coiiy^ress I'nr tUo fiscal year I'liding Juno 30, 1897, ''lor 
continuing ethnological researches among the American Indians, under 
the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, including salaries or com- 
pensation of all necessary employees " (sundry civil act, approved 
June 11, 1896) ' '. *45, 000. 00 

Salaries or compensation for services $32, 259. 1.5 

Traveling and field expenses $3, 859, 34 

Dravpings and illustrations 1, 429. 70 

Office rental 999.96 

Ethnic material ( specimens, etc. ) 378. 22 

Office furniture 21. 00 

Publications for library 1, 474, 06 

Stationery 330. (iO 

Fieiglit 216. 39 

Temporary services 1. 231. 66 ^ 

Supplies 1. 750. 43 

Reports 517. 40 

Miscellaneous 314. 05 

12, .522. 81 

44,781.96 



Balance. .Tulv 1, 1898, to meet outstanding liabilities 218.04 



CHARAOTKKIZATTOX OK AHM >M I'AXYIXO I'Al'EHS 

SUH.IF.CTS 'I'hEATKD 

"^riio two inonioirs a|i]icn(lcil to illustrate tlic results of tlie 
wiii'k ot' the lUireaii are of suniewliat special eliai-acter. 'Tlie 
first relates to the l^skiino alxmt lieriuy strait, who were \isite(l 
and studieil 1)\- ]\ir Nelson with the ])riniar\ |inr|ios(^ ot" collect- 
\n<j: thi'ir t\|iical |iro(liirtioiis tor the National Museniii; accord- 
inii'K", the priiiiarx nioti\c ol' the iiieuioir is description and 
illustration ot the han(li\\'ork ot the I'jskinio; Imt w Idle enj^au'ed 
in inakiuL;- the collection the aiilhoi- availed Inuisidf oi' oppor- 
tnnities lor (d)ser\"atioii o| ii'ihal haliits. as \\(dl as ot the \il- 
laii'es and their siirroundiui^s, and the data so olitained are 
incorporated in the description, whicdi is therel)\- n}ade to jn-e- 
scnt a ^'eneral ]iictnre of the Eskimo on liotli sides of lieriui>' 
sti'ait in theii' \arions aspects. The second memoir, on Indian 
Land ( 'essions, treats of the alioriuines in their relations t() 
white men, i-atlier than to primiti\-e conditions; Act the facts 
set forth in the maps and schedules are reipiisite to full nnder- 
staudiiii:' of the (diaracteristics and mo\'enients ot' the native 
trihes. 

In ii-eoi;-raphic distrihntion, the first memoir r(dates to mu(di 
of the coastxsise portion of Alaska, and to the correspondini;- 
area octaipied li\' similar jK-oples in Siheria, while the area co\- 
ered ill the second paper is practicalK' conterminous with that 
of the L'liite(| States, exidusive of Alaska. 

At the date of Mr X(dson"s visit the Alaskan Eskimo were 
Coinparati\'(d\ little alfected li\ contact with American whalers, 
inissi<niarie>, and traders, ami rexcaleil comparati\ (d\' littler 
e\-ideiice of acculturation tlironi;-h earlier contact with tlu! 
liussians; accordini;-l\ , the portion of this interesiimi- people 
Ljathered ahoiit HcriiiL:' strait and desca'ilted in the accompanx- 
ii\>j: memoir max he ix-garded as t'airly re[)reseutative, and 



Lll BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 

about as neavlv in aboriginal (•ondition as any portion of the 
great Eskiniauan stock thus far shidied. Naturally the nn-nioir 
on land cessions deals with tril)t-s ;ifter more or less complete 
accultui'ntion. 

The Eskimo jVbout liERiNO Strait 

On the acquisition of Alaska hx the United States, cjuestlons 
as to the resources and ca|)abilities of the newly acquired 
territory were agitated; and, as a natural and necessary step 
toward answering these questions, the late Spencer F. Baird, 
then secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, instituted a series 
of meteorological obser^'ations on the Alaskan coast. In carry- 
ing out the plan, Mr E. W. Nelson was stationed at St Michael 
in 1877; and his observations were continued, \vitli brief inter- 
ruptions, until 1881, when he was made naturalist of an expe- 
dition to the northern coast of Siberia. Throughout his stay 
at St 3Iichael and during several exploratory trii)s made there- 
from, and while at-ting as naturalist of the later expedition, 
Mr Nelson, undin* instructions from the Smithsonian In.stitution, 
availed himself of opjmrtunities for collecting products of 
Eskimo handicraft; at the same time, under the inspiration of 
noteworthy scientitic zeal, he constantlv sought opportunity 
for ol)servation and inquiry concerning the habits, customs, 
social regulations, beliefs, and ceremonies of the tribes with 
which he came in contact. After the institution of the Bureau, 
Mr Nelson was, at the instance of Secretary Baird, commis- 
sioned to extend his incpiiries and collections under the auspices 
of the Bureau; through this s[)ecial incentive, the product of 
his work was materially increased in quantity and value. 
With the close of the expedition, the material and the records 
relating thereto were transferred to Washington, and the 
collections were dnh- installed in the National 3Inseum. 
Unfortunately, failure of health prevented Mr Nelson from 
imniediatel}' elaborating his records for publication; and he 
was compelled to leave the capital and repair to the arid 
regions of southwestern United States and Mexico, where he 
slowly regained strength. His inclination and abilities led 
. him t() resume researches in natural histor\- as his restoration 



ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT T,III 

to liciiltli projiTcssi'd, and lie ln'cainc :\ cnllaljoratur oi' the 
Aiiricultural Department attaclicd to llif irioloi^ica! Snrxcw 
In lS!i;3 1k' was so tar recovered as to otler, tor the tirst time, 
some promise ot" arraiip-in<i- liis manuscript, and illustratini:- it 
from ilie eollections. in a form snitalile for puliliration: ami 
during- the winter of 18'.lo— IK! this plan was lar^^eK rarricd 
out. Tile descriptions of the tei'ritor\', the ti'iiies, and the 
ol)jet-ti\"e collections are incorporateil in the accompanxino- 
iHi-moir: the liuii'tiistic collections made in connection with the 
other lines of work are not \ ct iinallv elaborated. 

Tli(! Eskimauan famih or stock constitutes one of the most 
remarkable pi'0])les of the woi-ld. ThcN' are U()tewoi'th\' us 
the most northei'K and most characteristicalK' Arctic inhal)it- 
ants of Amerii-a and part of Eurasia: the\ arc conspicuous 
for the vast linear extent and extreme narrowness of tlieii' 
raiiiie — a ranji'e merely skirtini;- the coasts of Arctic water 
from (Ireeidand to Siberia: thev are reniarkal)lc for close 
similarity' throughout their exteiisi\e ran^e — in lauLi'uatie, 
belieis, industries, and a peculiar esthetic dcAelopment — and 
e(|uallv remarkable for dissimilarity from iieighborin<j- peo])les 
of other families: and most students have l>eeii puzzled bv the 
apparent absence of detinite social or<>'Uuization. and. in some 
cases, bvthe appai'ent absence of fiducial ceremonies. Several 
of these (diaracteristics of the Eskimo receive new lii;ht through 
the intimate accjuaintance enjoveil b\- ^Ir Nelson with the tril)es 
about Ueriiif;- strait. The memoir fulK' illustrates and empha- 
sizes the delicate interrelation Ix'tween the Eskimo and their 
severe environment: the implements, utensils, weajions, < loth- 
inji-, and haliitations are of local material, and of t\ pc deter- 
mined, at least in lart;-e measui'e, 1)\- material and other local 
conditions: tlii' jii'inci|ial (dements of bcdiet' and cercmouN" 
reHect tdimatal and other local factors in a conspicuous de<>ree; 
while the special manitestations of capacit\' incdude endui'ance 
of cold and wet, deftness in makinji' and liandlini;- wat<'r craft. 
al)ilitv for foi-ced marches throuiih sun and st<iiMn. skill in 
improvisini^- shelters, etc. ( )n the whole, the Eskimo atfoi-d a 
peculiarh' instructi\(' ex;imple of ailjustment to surrotnidiuLis. 
and of enfoi'ceil — albeit slow — progress in makini;- coni|nest ot' 
en\ironmcnt in tlii-ir strife for existence. 



LIV BL'REAU OP AMERICAN ETHN'OLO(;Y 

Dif^trilnited with fair uiiit'oruiitA" over a prarticallv coiitiiui- 
ons coast, the ^Vlaskau Eskimo ilkistrate the social structure and 
relations of the .social groups of which the stock is composed. 
These groups correspond in all essential respects to the tribes 
of other aboriginal stocks, save that the tribal distinctions are 
less conspicuous; each is characterized b^ a distinct dialect 
whose sj)ecial features are apparently emphasized b^' purposive 
intonation and othei- devices; eacli has a tlistinct, albeit perhaps 
indefinite, organization anil governmental personnel: in many 
cases there are consistent distinctions in dress, decoration, and 
industrial devices; and the groups intermarry among each other, 
but avoid union with alien tribes. It is noteworthv that cer- 
tain pliysical distinctions appear to accompany these demotic 
distinctions in some instances: vet it is hardlv less significant 
that the somatic distinctions are inconstant and onh' partially 
consistent with the demotic distinctions. 

One of the most important facts developed by the work is 
the exi.stenee of a regular gentile organization, witli corre- 
sponding totems, among- the Alaskan Eskimo north of Kusko- 
kwim river. As usual among the American aborigines, the 
totems are zoic, including the wolf, otter, ermine, gerfalcon, 
raven, bear. etc. The totems are represented by symbols on 
implements and uti'usils, by marks on clothing, and, at least 
in some cases, by tattooing. Unfortunately, the concomitant 
social structure was for the most part concealed beyond reach 
of any inipiiries the author was al)le to make. The discovery 
of the totems ;ind of their connection with a definite kinsliip 
system is especially noteworth\' as pi-actically the first of the 
kind; hitherto observers among the western Eskimo have 
a))parently fitiled to penetrate the well-concealed and probably 
decadent social foundation, while it would a})pear that among 
the eastern Eskimo the primitive features are so far maskeil 
b}- more advanced or cultitral features as to elude detection. 

Indian Land Cessions 

When the Bureau was instituted in 1S7<|, it was deemed 
desirable to investigate the subject of aboriginal land tenure, 
and, partly as a means to this end, partly because of the 



ADMIMSTKATIVE KEPORI' LV 

iiiliLTcnr intcrrst in the work. Td cxainiiic into rlic rnmst'cr of 
tlu' ahoriiiiiial lioliliui^s r<i oiiiijucriiio- nations. Dt^'taik'd 
ill(|ui^^' was assigned to Mr ( 'liarlcs ( '. Iioncc, wlio jn'cparcd 
tor the first annual ivi)ort a lirict' jiapcr on the Indian land 
cessions of Indiana, which served to illustrate the methods 
and purposes of the in(|uii'\". I'lie investia'ation was continued, 
and x'ielded a nioi-e elahoi-ate iiienioir on the land cessions of 
the ( 'herokee Indians, published in the report for 1S83-84. 
With the extension ot' the research. inan\- ditliculties were 
encountered: in some casi-s the cessions were imjierfectlv 
recorded: in the greater munber of cases the cessions were 
made in advance of the execution of trustworthy surveys and 
niap.s, so that the boundaries of tlie ceded teri-itor\" were 
indefinite: in lunnerous instances the cessions weiv defined by 
metes and Ixiunds, begimiinu' at tem])orar\' or shiftini:- objt'cts 
as starting points which were lost or changeil befoi-e surveys 
were made: and, in many cases, the original areas were modi- 
fied after tlie extension of the public laud surveys into the 
districts, and the modificati<ius were sometimes made without 
definite record. These and other obstacles to the work not 
only retarded its progre.ss materially, Init sometimes introduced 
elements of luicertainty in the results. In the etfoi't to over- 
come the obstacles and minimize the uncertainties, Mr Koyce 
engaged iu extensive correspondence with state and county 
ofticev.s, \-isited doul)tful localities, and personally examined 
A'arious state and count\- records; he also examined jiersonally 
numerous nnpul)lished papers, letters, maps, ])lats. and other 
records in the offices of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 
and the Conunissioner of the General Land Office: and it is a 
sjjecial pleasure to acknowledge the constant courtesy of the 
officials of these sister buivaus throughout the consideral)le 
period co\"ered 1)}' the in(pui"\ . 

In 18S5, Mr Hoyce, having extended his work jiractieallv 
throughout the United .States, and having made his material 
nearly ready for publication, i-etii-ed from tlie Uuivau and the 
work. \'arious circumstances, including a change in the law 
i-elating to the pul)lications of tlu- Ihn-eau, delayed the final 
preparation and printing of the material: and in lsy4 it was 



Lvl UUREAT OF AMERICAN ETHXOLdOY 

,,liu-e.l in til.- Imuds ,.f I )r Cynis Tlionias,. wli.. was commls- 
si..ii('.l t.> l.rino- the s.-1:.m1u1.-s niul in:i]is u]) tn daTc. t.. pivpare 
a oviu-ral iiitn.(lucti..u, ami t.- revise the luatovial in tlie H.^i'lit of 

lari-r liistorv. In this task 1 )r 11 las, like 'Sir Kcyce in the 

earher staii'cs of the work, was coiirteuusly given access to 
reconks aii<l otherwise assisted l)y the Indian and Land ofKces. 
The tal)nlation is ln-ought up to IXil."). 

11ie views of ].niniti\c men, like the Anieilcan aborigines, 
with respect to land teinire are essentially uidike the views 
prevailing in dvilization. espedally in that advanced culture 
in whitli individnal land tenui-e is cnstomary. 1'o the prinii- 
ti\c man, land is a tree and connnon possession, like water in 
more advanced cnltnre, and like air in cmTent thonght: eadi 
trilie, indee(l, recognized its range, hut did not i-egard the land 
as an dement, much less a l)asis, of value; and wirliin tlie tribe 
the interest in the range was coimnon and indl\ isihle. This 
distinction in fundamental views of land tenure has always 
foi'uied one of the most serious o))sta(1es in the way of har- 
monious association l)etween j)eo])les of mdike culture grade; 
and niudi of the strife between (Jaiu'asian and native on 
American soil has gi'own out of the failure of eadi to gi'asp or 
e\('n to percei\'e the fundamental pilnciples of the othei'. 
i\ccordingl\', the histor\- of the acipiisiticm of lands b^• white 
men ]\]-a\ l)e regarded as a history of the slow accpiisition 
of the iirst ]ii-indples ot' dvilized laml teiun-t.' on the part of 
the red men: and there is, perhaps, no more striking niiulc of 
tludntillectual progress (if the Indian through contact with the 
Caucasian than that afforded bv the now fnrlv connnon 
instances of the acceptance of land ownership in seA-(;raltv. 
11ie essential dilfereiice in fundamental ideas concerning land 
tenui-e between white men and red should be constantlv borne 
in mind in dealing- with the motives and considerations of land 
cession on the part of the Indians. 

l»e\ iewing the history of America's accpiisition of lands from 
the Indians in the light of the fundamental ditferences in view 
between the two ])eoiiles, it becomes eviilent that despite the 
pitiably fi-e(pu'ut cases of ])ersonal and temjioi-arv injustice to 
the weaker race, the general policy has been guided ))a- a deep- 



AD>[INIS|-KATIVK RF.I'OKT LVII 

ocroundcd vccoii'uitidu :>\' t!ic ]!riii(i|)les of jusricc and riulil on 
tli(i part <>t" l)()th peoples: ir heeoines eqaalK' clear that tiie 
weaker ])eople liaxc sii('l'ere(| tlie iiior<' tVdiii the cdiitaet siinpU" 
Ix'oause thw ai-e the weaker, and it IjecKuies still more clearK 
evident that the recognition of the ri<i'lits of the aboritiinal 
land-holders has j^-rown stronger and firmer with the passiiin- of 
generations from the first settlement to the present, that the 
sympathy for the weaker race has increased with miitnal 
understaiidinii', anil that the jnstice shown the red man is more 
richh' tempered witli mercy to(hiy than dnrini;' am' earliei' 
decade. 

While the priiriary purpose of the research maturini;- in this 
memoir was strictly ethnoloii'if, and while it was carried for- 
ward with the chief object of cliicidatiiiii' aljorig-iiial character- 
istics, it is thought that the memoir will Ik; practically useful 
to historians, students of civilized institutions, and other idasses 
of citizens, incduding especialK' those makers and interpreters 
of our laws more directly concerned with pr<iprietar\' rights 
and temires. 

18 KTU V 



ACCOMPANYING PAPERS 



18 ETU 1 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



K1)\VAKI> WTl.T.lAM NKLS( )Nr 



CONTENTS 



Iiitioiliictoiy ly 

Skcti U of the wrsteni Kskiiiu) 23 

(ieofirapliic fe:itiiii"s of their laufju '-'3 

Distiibutiou of trilx-s anil dialects. 21 

Physical characteristics 2ti 

Clothing 3(1 

(ianiioiits in uciicial 30 

Wnterproof ;;aniicnts 3(i 

Kar-llaps 37 

Gloves and mittens 3H 

Foot-wiar Id 

Boots 1(1 

SoiUs and boot-pads 13 

Clothing I>ags 13 

Personal adornment 14 

I.alirets 44 

Tattooing fjO 

lieads and earrings , 52 

Hair ornaments and combs :u 

liracolets 5X 

Belts and licit buttons 5!» 

ftensils and imi)lemeuts (;3 

Lamps (13 

1 Uppers, ladles, and spoons (i'l 

"Woodi'n dishes, trays, and buckets 70 

I'estles 73 

Blubber liooks and carriers 73 

Bags for water and oil 73 

Rakes 74 

Koot picks 75 

Boiie breakers 75 

Fire-making implements 75 

isuow beaters 77 

Snow shovels and ice picks 78 

Mallets 79 

Iiui)lemeDts used in arts and inannfactnres 80 

Ivory and bone working tools 8(t 

Urills, drill-bows, and caps 1<1 

Kni ves !-5 

Chisels 86 

Polishing and linishing tools 87 

Wedges and manls HS 

Arrowshaft straighteuers X>< 

B.aver- tooth tools 89 

Birch-bark tools 90 



(J CONTF.NTS lETH.NN.is 

Sk.'l.l. of th,' w.-stori. i:skiiii.>--<'"ntinnr,l. 

I,„,,le.nents ns,-,! i,. n.ts an,! ,„.nM<a,tnres-Co,U.m.ea. Page 

<toiio iinpli'iiiciils ' 



T.X.I l.a-.s and liamllf 

T0..I l.oxcs 

Wcjiiicn's work boxes 



100 



IlaiHll.-s for wnrkl.ox.-s aii.l water iMickets - 



. ■ , ..„„■• 104 

,„,eiis l,.ni.s.-«nes 

(lies an<l l>0(lkiiis 



lOS 

!*'.""""!'',''";■'""" 108 

\\ iiiMc-u s knives 

rliiiiililes and (liinible Iiolders - -■- l^O 

liuiilenients for making thread and cord HO 

Skin-dressing tools - 

Skin dressing - - ^^^ 

Hnntins and hunting imjilenients - --■ H^ 

Animal traps and snares - - --- 1'* 

i!ird snares and nets ^■^^ 

Seal spears - - l^^ 

Walrns and whale spears - 137 

Kloats --- "0 

Lanees - "5 

Spear and lani'e heads 117 

■rhrowinu sticks - 152 

llows - - 155 

Arrows 157 

Ai'rows for large game - - 1''7 

Hird arrows — li'9 

I'lsh arrows 160 

Arrowpoints - !•'! 

Qnivers - 161 

Wrist-gnards - 101 

Hoxes for arrow- and spear-points 162 

Firearms 1 63 

Ilnnting hags and lielmets 166 

Snowgogyles 169 

Hunting and skinning knives 171 

Drag handles 172 

Fishing and lishing implements _ 173 

Methods of fishing 173 

Fish traps 183 

Nets 185 

Net-making inijilements 190 

Ganges ■ 190 

Shuttles and needles 19i 

Marlinsi.ikes 193 

Reels 193 

Fish sjiears ... ". 194 

Arts and mannfaetnres 19(5 

Hone and ivory earving 19(; 

Draw ing I97 

Written records i9f< 

I'aints and colors igg 

Pottery 201 

Mats, baskets, .iiid bags 202 



SON] tX)NTKNTS i 

ilch (if tlie western Eskimo — ('ontiiinoil. Papo 

Travel tiiid tiansportatioii 205 

Sle<ls 20o 

Dog liarness and a<couteimmits 20li 

Bieast yokes 211 

Suowshoes 212 

Ice staffs 2U 

lee creepers 21") 

Boats 21(> 

Boat hooks 222 

TaiUIIes 223 

Spear and ]>addle };uard8 220 

Trade and tradinj; voyages 228 

Units of valne and measurement- — Numeration 232 

I'nits ol' value 232 

I 'nits of measurement 232 

Clininonietry 23J^ 

Numeration 2.'!5 

Villages ami houses 2J1 

Ruins 2ii3 

Kood 21)7 

Tohacco and smoking 271 

Methods of using tobacco 271 

Tobacco implements 273 

Snufl'-boxes 273 

Snuff-tubes _ 27.') 

Boxes for I'luigus ashes -jT:, 

Quid boxes 27.S 

Pipes 2X0 

Tobacco bags 2X I 

House-lile and social customs 28.i 

The kashim 2s5 

Sweat baths 2S7 

II welling houses 2>^x 

Childbirth 2><(i 

Puberty 2111 

Marriage 2111 

Moral characteristics 292 

Treatuu-nt of disease • 30!t 

Mortuary customs 310 

Totems and family marks 322 

Wars 327 

(iames and toys 330 

Music anil dances _ 347 

Keasts and festivals 3r)7 

The function of the celebrations 3r)7 

Calendar of festivals 3r)7 

Th(^ "Invitlngin" feast 3r>,s 

The "Asking" festival '. '. 3.")1» 

The trading festival SlU 

Feasts to the dead 303 

Mortuary feasts in general 303 

Great feast to the dead 30.") 

Masks and inaskettes 3113 

Other ceremonial objects 415 

Id ligiou and mvtliologv 421 



s 



(•0NTI;NT.S [eth.a.v 



Sk.li-li of th.- wcstiTii K.skiiiio— Ci.iitiinieii. 
i;,-li-ioii .irul invtlK.lo.^'V— Colli iiiii.Ml. 

Klifct of ClirisliMii coiitacl 

\Vitrli<nift 

SlKMlrsof tli.'.lcM.l 

(k-ii.t>iH iiiytli — llii- K.ivfii I'atlicr... 
Sii|iiTiiatiir:il i>oweis 

Mytliir aiiiiiiairt 

('om'c|itioii of ii;itiiral plionDiiidia .. 

rrailitioiial hlK.wers of asli«s 

Aiiiiiial s.viiiliolisiii 

Folk fal.' 



421 

422 

' 422 

425 

427 

441 

449 

449 

450 

^ ,450 

.Scopnof Alaskau folklore -150 

Klood lo.ueiuls fmm St Michael ■l^S 

Tales of tlio Kavrn ^•''2 

111.- creation ^^2 

Haven takes a wife 4I"'2 

The Haven, the Whale, and the Mink 464 

The Keil Hear ( from St Michael and Norton sound i 41)7 

TheOiant -171 

The One-who-linils-nothin^ 474 

The Loue AVoiiian 479 

The cireling of cranes 4.S0 

The (Uvarf i)eople l^iO 

The .Sun and the Moon (from St Michael) 4S1 

The Snii and the Moon (from the Lower Yukon) 4X2 

Origin of land and jieople 482 

■I'he Iirin.uing of the light hy Raven 4S3 

The K"ed Hear ( from Andreivsky i - 4X5 

The last of (he Thnnderhirds ' im 

The Land of the I )ea<l 488 

The strange hoy 490 

' Higin of the Vn-gi-yhik or I-ti-ka-tah' festival 494 

Origin .if Avinds 497 

The strong man 499 

The Owl-gill 499 

Tale of Ak -chik-chii -gnk 499 

The iliacontented Grass-plant 505 

The lire hall DIO 

The Laud of Darkness 5U 

Tlie Kaven and tlie Marmot 514 

The shaman in the moon .~)15 

The Man-worm 51(5 

M igration legend 51(j 

Origin of the people of Diomede islands and of Last cape, Siheria 517 



TLLTSTli ATIONS' 



I'l.A 1 1; 1. (.Kiiip i>t' Kifni^niimil Iniiii I'mt Chirence U) 

il. Histi-iliiitiiiii of till' Eskimo ;il)oiit I'.iTiii^' strait 2:< 

lil. Mal.iimt family t'roin SliaUtolili I?.-, 

I\ . K'iriiij.nimnt iiialc, Sii-Un-uk, age '2'> 27 

\. Kifiuginimt male, KomiU-serter, age 23 2!> 

\ I. Kiniigumnt male. Kyo-kuasec. ai;e 16 31 

\ II. Kiniiitiimiit mall, Iscr-kyuiT, age 20 33 

\'in. Kiruisjiimnt ffiuale, Kok-siik, age 23 3.5 

IX. Kiuiiguniul fiiiiale, I'ligtM-kee-kliik. age 22 37 

X. KiriMgumiit t'lMiialc. age 22 311 

XI. Sihi-iiaii Kskiino: a.-\Voiuan of Mechigiiif liny, h. Woman of East 

cape 40 

XII. 1 Eskimo men — Meehigmi- bay, .•<ilii;iia 43 

.\II1. (ape rrini'i' of Wales ami Icy cajie men 4,5 

XI\ . Typically dressed wonn'U and childreu from East caj)e, Sibi-riii 47 

XV. Tyiiical dress of Kaviagnint and Kn.skokwogmnt men and women. .. 4!* 

XVI. Mans birdskin frock. (64273) 50 

X\I1, Front and back of man's dccr.skin froi'k. (40107) 53 

.Will. I'ront and back of wonnin's frock. (7510) 55 

XIX. Front of mans lishskin frock. (3K817) ,56 

XX. Men's gloves: 1 (61271), 2 (172Si, 3 (48135), 4 (64287), 5 (44:i50l, 6 

(3X4541, 7 1481011 .5H 

XXI. r.oMts, watcrpro.f mittens, and straw .socks: 1 (49082), 2 (38814), 
3 (48127), 4 (43345), 5 (49083), 6 (483MI), 7 (48132), 8 (38871), "I 

i:3H779i, 10(129822), 11 (4.3315), 12 (49164) lio 

XXII. l.abrets: 1 (176070), 2 (31277), 3 (176069), 4 (36869), 5(36871), 6(176074), 
7 (37038), 8 (16210), 9 (43757), 10 (16205), 11 (16204), 12 (16203), 13 
(76681), 14 (176067), 15 (76678), 16 (48749), 17 (33506), 18 (37663), 19 
(44903), 20 (44902), 21 (48898), 22 (4,5200), 23 (176068), 24 (63839), 

25 (44 130) (;2 

XXIII. Kotzebne sound Malemut men and women with lahrets 64 

XXIV. Earrings: 1 (4,573), 2 (48306), 3 (38170), 4 (37271), 5 (4574), 6 (37270), 
7 (4,572), 8 (38051), 9 (24701), 10 (38168), 11 (4569), 12 (43667), 13 
(368.39), 11 (.37.517), 15 (37264), 16 (4570), 17 (4568), 18 (36862), 19 

(44912) -. (i6 

X\V. Earrings an<l other ornaments: 1 (37002), 2(37745), 3 (37006), 4 (37007), 
5 (4.3713), 6 (37003). 7 (.36003), 8 (38417), 9 (37258), 10 (372.54). 11 

(38410), 12 (373.56), 13 (4.3730) 6.S 

XX\ I. Women and children of Cape Smith 70 

' TliL- lif;un-» ill imrelitliesi-.s I'ollinviiic tin- titlii.H c,f I In- illuslnilinns ivIVr In the liiinili.rs iiC the 
.ibj.Tts ill tlie caliil.is; i.f 111,. I'liilt-.l St:ilt.s Nnlioiial Mii>i-iiiii. 



10 lI.l.rsTl.'ATIONS iKiiTANsMS 

I'lAlK XXVII. U,-ll rasteiici-s; 1 ^1412*!). 2 CiTL'IIH). '.i (.■!7()48i. 4 i l.SliL'lO, r^ 
C.iT2\2), i; (WfilD.T (iitiilL'O), S (4:i7--'4), !l (H70341, 10 i IIISSO). 
11(15183), 12(:M»11). 13 (KKin), 14 (44529), 15(i:^72:ii. ID 
(371(if<>, 17 (43719), 18 (37484), 19 (38565), 20 (37.S33), 21 
137012). 22 (48194), 23 (.37990), 24 (43(315), 25 (37209). 2(1 

(37332), 27 (37989), 28 (38.5.53). 29 (3770(1), 30 (37333) 72 

XWIII. l-anips and pots; 1 ((J3545). 2 (3807S). 3 (64222), 4 (63544). 5 
,(i35(!(i),6 (30761),7 {63570).8 (4919(i). 9 ((53543). 10 fl2701X), 

1 1 (49110), 12 ( 14338 ), 13 ((i3.548 ) - 7'4 

XXIX. l..Hllrs and (lii)pcr.s: 1 (38629), 2 (4.5054), 3 (45100),4 (38631). 5 
(38635), 6 (33062), 7 (45007), 8 (38604), 9 (45513), 10 (63575), 

II ((i3.576), 12 (48129) - ^^ 

XXX. Si.„<.i.8 iiud ladles: 1 (33280), 3 ((53227), 3 (37340), 4 (37475), 5 
(.37116), (i (35961), 7 (63832). 8 (37118), 9 i:36355), 10 (359,59). 
11 (363.58), 12 (38062), 13 (363.59), 14 (3li3.57), 15 (1)3278), 16 
(38.508), 17 (38.527), 18 (4.5051), 19 (38.503), 20 (43491), 21 

(38637), 22 (3.5960), 23 (37120), 24 (38632), 25 (38638) 78 

XXXI. 4'rays and pestles: 1 (63719), 2 (127007), 3 (48844), 4 (38678), 5 

(37868), 6 (.38(i83), 7 (38,S44), 8 (38677), 9(127019) 80 

XXX II. Trays and buckets: I (632431, 2 (38(i.54), 3 ;38(i85), 4 (3306()), 

5 (37143). 6 (373.55), 7 (63245), 8 (38642) 82 

XXXIII. Iiiiplriiients .-ind utensils: o. Water bag, nioutIi]iieces, l)liibl>er 

iM.nk, and .■.nrier: I (44605), 2 (35982), 3 (37432), 4 (3(5488), 
5 (33213 1. 6 (439.54 ), 7 (30774 ), 8 ( 1(!135), 9 (37375), 10 (38708), 
11 (30773), 12 (33203). b. l.'out pirks : 1 (161.32). 2 (44414), 3 
(33081) 84 

XXXIV. Kire-iiiakint; iuipleiiients: 1,2,3 (331(56), 4. 5(3(!325), 6 (49067). 

7,8 (37961), 9 (3,S(501) ,S6 

XXX\'. .snow shovel, pirk. lake. and maul: 1 i (53600), 2 (48994). 3 

1 63(;50). 4 ( (53(501 ) 88 

XXX VI. fi. Ivory workiiiK tools: 1 ((53274), 2 (65483), 3 (37980), 4 ((53319). 5 
(63316). 6 (43821), 7 (33604), 8 (48087), 9 (46145), 10 (48179). 
h. Drill bows: 1 (44206), 2(44209). 3 (44467), 4 (33189). 5 

I 33186), 6 (33191 ). 7 I 4.5017), .s ( 63S04 ). 9 (44208), 10 (48021). II 

( 63622 1 _ 90 

XXX\ II. Diills. drill raps, and eords: 1 (1.5.563). 2 (12(5986), 3 (33171), 4 
(63323), 5 (33170), (> (3.8798), 7 (89(525). X (89627), 9 (44203), 10 
(33172), 11 (38084), 12 (63720). 13 (48.5.85 1, 14 (485651, 15 
(49177), 16 (45.520), 17 (63(563), 18 (33147). 19 (33174). 20 
(37962), 21 (33(553), 22 (33149). 23 (36321). 24 (48927), 25 
(16176), 26(45383), 27 (3(5322), 2S (1(5611, 29 (126995). 30 

(63.506) i)2 

XXX\ III. Wond-workinfT tools: 1 (48705), 2 (38292), 3 (46147). 4 (48706), 5 
(36427), (384941. 7 (44981), 8 (48704), 9 (36.508), 10 (48.552). 11 
(38201), 12 (36420), 13 (45150), 14 (48542), 15 (43883), 16 
(45163).17(33026),18 (365.54), 19 (32882), 20(48847), 21 (36366), 
22 ((54154), 23 (38294). 24 (89(534), 25 (641.55), 26 (32878), 27 

((53320). 28 (45188), 29 (63318), 30 (3(5.507), 31 (48291) 94 

XXXIX. \Ve(l,u;es and adzes: 1 (38836), 2 (1(50(57), 3 (44(501), 4 (48873), 5 
((53619), 6 (48872),7 (127023). 8 (48182). 9 (38258), 10(33082), 

II (37,865). 12 (450(i9), 13 (33260), 14 (33083) 96 

XI.. Arrowsha ft straisjliteners and point setters: 1 (33039), 2 (63723). 

3 (41383), 4 (44415), 5 (3304X), 6 (38492), 7 ((54159), 8 (18(5801. 

9 (18723). 10 (63790), 11 (43924), 12 (14745) 99 

XI, I. Tool l.aKuud handles: 1 ((54151), 2 (44169). 3 (1439,S). 1 (1,8.5311. 

5 I 633(15 I, (; ( l,s,529), 7 (4,S089) 101 



s"^I ILLISTKAIION.S 11 

\TV. M.I I. Inol :iii<l trink.-t I. on.'.-: 1 ( liUUo j, 2 (tJSL'40). :i (:!liL'l()). 4 (375(51), o 
i i:!ss7). li iHfiL'UlH. 7 I. :!(;:.' IS!, ,s (36241). ;t (4901.5). 10 i3t)244), 

1 1 ( 3<;2 u; ) 102 

.\1.III. I;m. U.-t ami l.().\ handles: 1 ,44(iOI ). 2 (48(W5), 3 ((«X24), 4 (4S270), 

5 (3S752), fi (3037.-.). 7(4M(;i). 8 (G3809,i, S) (24431). 10 (38771!), 
U (447ir>), 12 (0380H, 13 (33279), 14 (481.37), 15 (48164), 16 
(3327,3), 17 (43820), 18 i3S751), I'J (33220), 20 (63884), 21 
(129218). 22 144190), 23 (48163), 24 (43809), 2.") (638791, 26 
(14276) 104 

.\l.l\'. riiiiiiMc ^jinanls. iiec(Ui'-rasi!s. and hoDt-sole cicascrs: 1 (48496). 2 
i63121 1, 3 (364.591, 4 (3()l.->6i, .") (36463). 6 (36464 ), 7 (48299>, 8 
l361.-).-i), 9(36453), 10 (364.>l), 11 (44011), 12 (48664), 13 (36452), 
14 (44340), 15 (43861), U; (64165), 17 (63827), 18 (64167). 19 
(48.570), 20(44017), 21 (37237). 22(36885), 2:i (36878), 24 (4.54.59), 
25 (24484), 26 (33462), 27 (36880), 28 (48,560), 29(45168), 30 
(64161 1, 31 (38448), 32 (33699), 33 (43505), 34 (48080), 35 (36742), 
36 (36758), 37 (37807), 38 (33214), 39 (3(>721), 40 (44137), 41 
(48546), 42 (6.3806), 43 ( 16189), 44 (48289), 45 Ci-fMU ), 46 (38449), 

47 (13738), 48 (33677), 49 (45140). 50 (43389 1, 51 (48543) 106 

XL\ . •■ ll(ni.se\viv.'8" ami fasteniui;s: 1 (48963), 2 (37778), 3 (436621, 4 
(366901, 5 (37791 ), 6 (36695). 7 (37786), 8 (37189), 9 (37783). 10 
(45142), 11 (43663), 12 (19001), 13 (37319), 14 (64288), 15(38691), 
16 (44021), 17 (38198), 18 (48795), 19 (.37767), 20 (38221), 21 
(384021, 22 (36419), 23 (37310), 24 (37457), 25 (38376), 26 (38241), 
27 (37739), 28 (35972), 29 (43694), .30 (38387), 31 (16343), 32 
(38690) 108 

Xl.Vl. Bodkins: 1 (33251), 2 (37,304), 3 (38385), 4 (377,52), 5 (37621), 

6 (36286), 7, 36631), 8(3()(>34), 9(43.535), 10(36632), 11 (37776), 

12 (43388). 13 (3(i(!26., 14 (48798), 15 (48948), 16 (38495) 110 

XI.VIl. I'iNh and .skiniiinji knive.s: 1 (3(i315), 2(63771 ), 3 (63773), 4 ■ 37957), 

5 (43892), 6 i3(;506), 7 (48829), 8 (48828), 9 (382.56), 10;43482).. 112 
XLVIU. Thread- and cord-niakiiif; i"il>l''niL'nts: a. (irass <-<)nili.s: 1 (44779), 
2 (44777), 3 (44419), 4 (48120), 5 (33145), 6 ((>36.57), 7 (48842), 
8 (38079), 9 (48877), 10 (48918). h, Thread .shuttles and 
needles: 1 (24463), 2 (24461), 3 (36449), I (48261), 5 (48287), 6 

I 137401.7 (43742). 8 (3(Ut8) 114 

XLIX. .-^kin serapors: 1 (30825), 2 (63851), 3(64181), 4 (fi,38,50), 5(48631), 

6(113868), 7(48624), 8 (44084 ), 9 ((;3849), 10(44983), U (44982), 
12 (48882), 13 (43408), 14 (61176), 15 (.•;82,52), 1<! (63405), 17 

(38828), 18 (33086), 19 (38185), 20 (43927) 116 

L. Skin-eieaiiing tools: 1 (43433), 2 (32890), 3 (38755), 4 (43767), 
5 (48256). 6(36520), 7(44771), 8 (63800), 9 (63353), 10 (633511, 

II (63833), 12 (63666), 13 (37967), 14 (45730), 15 (32885), 16 
(45105). 17(48982), 18 (48549) 118 

LI. .Nets, snares, and tia|)s: 1 (38(!22), 2 (33716), 3 (43291), 4 (442.55). 
5 ( 121)033), 6 (46072). 7 (37651), 8 (63815), 9 (33820), 10 (3,3812), 
11 (126993). 12 (63.590), 13 ((i3590), 14 (63258), 15 (126993), 

16(3s44h 122 

Lll. Hr.iininj; eliibs nnd seal-captnrin.i; imi)l<-nii'nts : I ((i3745i, 2 
(63(i7(i), 3 (.38476), 4 (33143), 5 (37598), (! (63270), 7 (63788 1, 8 
(63787), 9 (48503), 10 (481(>7), 11 (33143), 12 (48,561), 13 (45113>. 
14 (38500). 15 (63777), 16 (44411), 17 (45003), 18 (4.5005., 19 
(4.5047), 20 (63876), 21 ((>3781), 22 (44142), 23 (64218 ■, 24 

( 127013 1, 25 (46355 1, 2(i (63780 ) 12fi 

l.lll. ^t Mieh.iil liiiiitercastini; a seal spear 135 



12 ILLrSTKATIONS [it.m.an.vIS 

P.vii l.IV SM,ans.-a1s,,,.;n-8amllim.s: l(n5<i(;9),2(:Bys()), 3(311110), M33S72), 

-..■t(il(l3i {;(373.-.0), 7i I374S),?<(3(>(1XU,!I(17.';(;73), 10(160337).. 13( 
1 \ S|MMrs an.l l-.n.vs: „. I.ar^'o spoars: 1 (33911), 2 (29780), 3 (4S150), 
1 1331173), r, (315()(>7), (i (3388f<). 7 (-15415), S (43429). '', Lauces: 
! (175072), 2 (48379), 3 (4.54191, 4 (4.5431), 5 (.37388), G l37389l . 139 
],VI llMMtiii^- an.l li.slihif,' apparatus: «. Float, lloat-iihi-s. and mo.ith- 
pircvs: I (37820). 2 (.37239). 3 (44627). 4 (36499), 5 (37822), 6 
136498), 7 (43981), 8 ( 14306), 9 (4.3509), 10 (44629), 11 (45169), 

12 (44305), 13 (43510), 14 (44770), 15 (37329), 16 (36209), VI 
(.33298), 18 (63340), 19 ( 14285). 20 (33452), 21 (33451), 22 (3(;495), 
23 (63663), 24 (44284), 25 (37818), 26 (3.3627), 27 (36209), 28 
(44432), 29 (43515), 30 (45126), 31 (63342). h, (,'orcl attacliers: 
1 (16192), 2 (.37054), 3 (37060), 4 (37068), 5 (37824). 6 (37052), 7 
(38149), 8 (48317), 9 (370.55), 10 (37036), 11 (129271), 12 (44709), 

13 (.37064), 14 (4.3624), 15 (33650), 16 (49009), 17 (4.3382), 18 
(336.30), 19 (38006), 20 (37218), 21 (37228), 22 (33445), 23 (37057) . 142 

l.\Il. Oliject.s used ill liuntiug: n. Lance points, rto. : 1 (48389), 2 (43758), 

' 3 (37657), 4 (48181), 5 (43870), 6 (38517), 7 (36294), 8 (44051), 9 

(37618), 10 (36312), 11 (44217), 12(37662), 13(63863), 14 (44321), 

15 (126915). 16 (37390), 17 (38459), 18 (38607), 19 (46076), 20 
( 16173), 21 (.331.59), 22 (446.57), 23 (.36333), 24 (37.389), 25 (373.8^), 

26 (37581 ), 27 (37390). /), Spear beads, points, iinger-rcsts, etc. : 
1 (14105), 2 (63497), 3 (126912), 4 (16125), 5 (37377), 6 (44699), 
7 ( 14703), 8 (44746), 9 (.38529), 10 (4.s82n), U (.33632), 12 (48471), 
13 (63334), 14 (3()343i, 15 (:'.7951), 16 (44421), 17 (43461). 18 
(43461), 19 (48276), 20 (44077), 21 (45171), 22 (43865), 23 (45173), 
24 (63842), 25(63844), 26 ((33843),27(33465), 28 (44812), 29 ( 15170), 

,30 (.37671), 31 (48293), 32 (33641), 33 (37417). 34 (36097) 148 

L\III. St Micliacl man casting a bird .spear 151 

I.IX. Bird spears: 1 (36139), 2 (33879), 3 (48387), 4 (48354). 5 (36129), 

6 (4,5426), 7 (.3.3845), 8 (48350), 9 (29852), 10 (33848), 11 (36076) . . . 153 
l,.\. li.iws: 1 (36038), 2 (36033), 3 (33886),4 {160341),5 (43679), 6 (36031), 

7 1 4S374), 8 (33884), 9 (73172), 10 (45736), 11 (36029) 1.55 

l..\I. lliiiitiiig and w.ar implements: n, Arrows for large game and for 

war: 1 (126990), 2 (176093 a). 3 (63.584), 4 (176093 d). 5 (45433), 6 
(176093 (0,7(129327), 8(164 15), 9(36179), 10 (16415), 11 (635S4), 
12 (63584 f(). '', Arrowpoints, streugtlieners for bows and 
qnivers, and wrist-guards: 1 (482.59), 2 (48974), 3 (63374), 4 
(33634), 5 (49065), 6 (48717), 7 (48200), 8 (38.530), 9 (63860), 10 
(43950), 11 (44078). 12 (6.3331), 13 ((53276), 14 ((i3328), 15 (6.3326), 

16 (46097), 17 (48446), 18 (63375). 19 (44079), 20 (63755), 21 
(43872), 22 (6.3864 ), 23 (63753), 24 (3t!300), 25 (44048), 26 (38450), 

27 (24.596). e, Bird arrows and quiver: 1 (36140), 2 ( 176094 o), 
3(4543-'),4(33833),5(,33821), 6(33824), 7 (33827), 8 (176095).... 1.58 

l.Ml DoKes for arrowpoints and paints: 1 (33015), 2 (44458), 3 (33019), 
4 (44450), 5 (482.53). 6 (37,557). 7 (38475), 8 (24607), 9 (33024), 10 
(45514), 11 (24347). 12(4.34891.13(38336). 14 (37342). 15 (482.52), 

16 (37342), 17(43485) 1,12 

I. MM iilijccts used with gnus and in hunting: 1 (49187), 2 (332011.3 
I II32(;). 4 (44612). 5 (33210), 6 (44117), 7 (43977), 8 (36323i. 9 
( 1 1773). 10 (43512), 11 (36407). 12 (4.3513). 13 (63349), 14 (64197), 
15 (37433), 16 (36486), 17 (43923). 18 (43854). 19 (48134), 20 
(44772). 21 (44966). 22 (38100), 23 (43490), 24 (48450), 25 (37966), 
26 (3(!490). 27 (37363), 28 (33079), 29 (44963). 30 (1438^). 31 
(3(i()26).32 (4 1327). 33 (134SO) 164 



NKi-*i.N! Il.l.lIsrKATIOXS 13 

r:\SK 

I'lAiK \.\IV. Ilinii HI- li.'lini-ts, \isi>is,:iii(l snow goggles: I ( 1 lliL'S). 2 (38ii5il), 

;! (-14;!:;ii),4 (iiSUSS), ."> (T^yOCi), 6 (32915), 7 (()3(j:i()).S (-I4L'56), 

y (3L'yi2), 10 (46137), 11 (63825), 12 (632(iy), 13 (48996 1. 14 

(36351), 15 (33136), 16 (.37351),' 17 (4,5072), 18 (160337), 19 

(4434^), 20 (38718). 21 (3,8711), 22 (3.87131 166 

LXV. N.-plirile Unifi- sharpenrv, dagger, ami sheath: 1 (48.5,86), 2, :'. 

(176072) 170 

l.WI. ( ord or drag handles: 1 (37693), 2 (44537), 3 (48190), 4 (33620), 5 
(63689), 6 (385.56), 7 (48.567), 8 (44885), 9 (4.5231), 10 (48666), 
11 (45176), 12 (44890), 13 (43970), 14 (336,57), 15 (45026), 16 

(37384), 17 (461621, 18 (44191), 19 (44151) 173 

l.XVII. Ice pick, seoops, and lish s].eai-s: 1 (4.8344), 2 (48343), 3 (.33860), 

I (36070.1, 5 (490511,6 (49019), 7 (49141). 8 (49142), 9 (31)024), 

1 ; ) ( 3389 4 ) ; 175 

l..\VIII. Fisliing ini|demeuts: 1 (16303). 2 (41096), 3 (37349),4 (37348), 5 
(63513), 6 (38377). 7 (33037), 8 (.33036), 9 (33376), 10 (37946), 

II (45115), 12 (44930), 13 (48298), 14 (37253), 15 (38413), 16 
(36378), 17 (37253), 18 i44745), 19 (43852), 20 (63284), 21 
(43401). 22 (63265), 23 (33915). 24 (4.5402), 25 (33816i, 26 
(4.5441 ), 27 (33900), 28 (33899), 29 (330.38). 30 (44075), 31(33915), 
32(63513) 176 

LXIX. Fishhooks and sinkers: l(4(i318),2 (46264). 3 (37413). 4 (44370), 
5 (64199), 6 (45255). 7 (44482). 8 (45261), 9 (49172), 10 (44475), 
11 (49172), 12 (44509), 13(449.53). 14 (44508), 15 (64188), 16 
(63630). 17 (44125), 18 (48305), 19 (449.54), 20 (14493), 21 
((i36:!4), 22 (44371), 23 (444.80), 24 (44371). 25 (126983), 26 
(4493:1), 17 (449^8), 28 (63512), 29 (126984), 30 (.38816), 31 

(I2ti989), 32 (63897), 33 (126989(i) I7>! 

LXX. objer ts used in lishing: 1 (4.5422), 2 (48998). 3 (37347), 4 (48o99). . 
5 , (>3377 1. 6 ( i;3737), 7 (63714 ). 8 (38808). 9 (38867). 10 ( 127943), 
11 (38498), 12 (49148). 13 (32988), 14 (176092), 15 (38825), 16 

I 33138 1 iN4 

I XXI. .'^citing tis'j ti-a]) thi'oiigli the ire on the Viikoii, near Ikogniiit.. 1.87 

I.XXll. Nc-t-niaking iniplements: 1 (439li7), 2 (49183). 3 (63304 ), 4 (63305), 
5 ( 13811). 6 (30373), 7 (485.39). 8 (44487), 9 (37428), 10 (49004), 
U (4,8283), 12 (44202), 13 (44996!, 14 (63652), 15 (48832). 
10 (33176), 17 (332571, 18 ,3lill3>. ID (44385). 20 (44607). 
21 (48722), 22 (48460 1, 23 il4.5li9i. 24 (33267), 25 (3,8276), 

26 (45110) 190 

I. XXIII. Net-niaUing implements: 1 (36681 j. 2 (33050), 3 (374.59),4 (.36416), 
5 (36398), (44413), 7 (48726), 8 (38662), 9 (37927), 10 (37928), 

II (126988), 12 (63.307). 13 (19108), 14 (447.87), 15 (49013), 
16 (38211), 17 (48938), 18 (44448), 19 (48286), 20 ((i36.54), 
21 (4iK)00), 22 (.33095), 23 (41994), 24 (44.573), 25 (444()3), 

26 (4.5014 ), 27 (48583), 28 (38.501 1 192 

LXXIW Dbjeets ol' grass and spruce root: 1 (37603). 2 (37926), 3 (44234), 
4 (36190), 5 (38204), 6 (32977). 7 (.3.5962), 8 (32968). 9 (166949), 
10 (127890), 11 (176077), 12 (176078), 13 (.38467), 14 (.32964). 

15 (32945) 202 

I.XXV. .Majeuuit family with dog sled 205 

I.XWl. .Model of sled fran»! with other olijeets used in tr:insi>ortation : 
1 (63.587), 2 (63656), 3 (43849), 4 (63371 ), 5 1 127004 ), 6 (44375), 
7 (6.3.361), 8 (49076), 9 (44736). 10 (63829), 11 (63;:98), 12 

138,57 ), 1 3 (48725 1, I I ( 16251 ). 15 ( 49146 1. 16 ( 48101 ) 208 

l..\.\\ll. Model ..f nuii.ik with matting sail. |38882) 217 



14 



2i':i 



ILLUSTKATIONS 1"" ' 

KlAWlir. Sl„.l.aofun,iakfn.m.-n,iKlappn.te,u.ncesofu.uiMka,Klkma,k 
■ ■ li-nii"- l(l.V's.li,l'llsri^7l,:;(;:!T01i;),4(3T(i7i!),^.(191feo), 

li 'illl:!) 7 (:i7:;(»0 , « ChIGI), (37301), lO (37001), 11 
(•i--'.|7) 12 (43.-)38). 13 (3;M)!1S), 11(43705), 15(44711), 10 
(38'>81)'l7 (24(i!)8), 18 (33407), Ifl (44980), 20 (44755), 21 
(44531)' 22 (3(i421). 23 (37420), 24 (30424), 25 (37939), 26 
(03605), 27 (33219), 28 (45380), 29 (.38277), 30 (36392), 31 
(33380), 32 (44759), 33 (63878), 34 (127014), 35 (46304), 

36 (447.58), 37 (18109), .38 (.38883) 

I.WIX. K.-iiiiks: IXimivakislaiul (76283), 2 XunivakishiiMl (160345), 
3 8t MiclKua (166932). 4 Kiug islnuil (100326), 5 Cape 

Ks|)ciil)erg (129575), 6 Ca])© Kruseusterii (129574) 

1 .\X\ Paddles aud "boat hocks: 1 (33893), 2(36023), 3(43347), 4 
(360221,5 (4.540S),6 (731691, 7 (3G071 ), 8 1360571, 9 (4.5406), 

10(18148) 

TAX XI. Storeboiisi'satlkogiaiit -45 

I.XXXU. Winter view of Kazbinsky - -'47 

I.XXXIII. KskimiMlwelliiig.s: n. House at I'Iov.t l>:i.\ . /<, NCatak siim- 

MMTlodge 1^59 

l.X X X I \\ Woiii.u of Plover bay, Siberia 200 

I.XXXW .Siiiiiiiier ("iinp at (.'alio. Lisljuriio 203 

l,XXX\i. 'I'obaeco and sniilt boxes and suuli'-makiiij;- iiuidemeuts: 1 
(4.3797). 2 (38334), 3 (48247), 4 (65.S0), 5 (,36268), 6 (33013), 
7 (36270), 8 (36276), 9 (3.5956), 10 (.36620), 11 (36267), 12 
(48839), 13 (36282), 14 (36281), 15 (36284), 16 (16091), 17 
(37.559), 18 (36280), 19 (43824), 20(37857), 21 (37.539), 22 
(362(i0), 23 (43952), 24 (30274), 25 (44957), 26 (37.540), 27 

(1636), 28 (33097), 29 (7074), 30 (48737) 270 

LXXXVll. Fiui-iis ash boxes aud tobaeeo bags: 1(24744), 2(3791)7). 3 
(48255),! ((54186), 5 (41059), 6(38665), 7 iG1187). 8 (63721 ). '.) 
(■1490(1), 10(384721, 11 (30249), 12 (1,S55II), 13(38061), 11 

(37858) 272 

LXXX\ 111. Pi|ies and pipe mold: 1 (44393), 2 (3,S785), 3 (63511 1, ■! (48172), 
5 (38790), 6 (637.S5), 7 (38788), 8 (4.5327), 9 (43963i, 10 

(32869), 11 (48171), 12 (43999), 13 (4,S076), 14 (49192) 280 

LXXXl.X. Ivory pipestems: 1 (7.506), 2 (2292), 3 (154073), 4 (2282).... 283 
XC. Snuff tubrs: 1 (41471), 2 (,36807), 3 (38435), 4 (37498), 5 
(3682! ), 6 (38039), 7 (38042), 8 (36818), 9 (3()817), 10 (36789), 
11 (37316). 12 (3.5978), 13 (49026), 14 (36.S25), 15 (37S11) 2S4 

XCl. Craveyard at Kazbinsky ;il7 

XCII. I'.sl, inio iilatearnior S:«) 

XC'lll. l)..lls: 1 (44871), 2 (24809), 3 (61209), 4 (37707), 5 (362161, 6 

( 3.S577), 7 (63518), 8 (63378) H42 

XCI\'. Suow knives: 1 (31)377), 2 (38359), 3 (37283), 4 (30578). 5 
(43.501), 6 (127407), 7 (43890), 8(127398), 9 (36514), 10 

(36591), 11 (365(38), 12 (37425). 13 (365,55) :{44 

! (48989), 2 (48985), 3 (33131 ), 4 (43779) ;!1I6 

1 (33108), 2 (33101) 3!)S 

i;i:iii^) 401 

1 1 49020), 2 (64242), 3 (38733) 404 

1 i61248),2 (38S02),3 (38045),4 i3<811) 406 

1 (042601,2 (33111), 3 (331051,4 (33107) ... 4(18 

1(33134), 2 (376.54) 410 

1 (33126 1. 2 (4S913), 3 (37861 ). 4 (64238) 412 



xcv. 


Mask. 


XCVI. 


.Mask: 


XCVIl. 


Mask. 


VCVllI. 


Mask. 


XCIX. 


Mask,' 


c. 


.M.iski 


CI. 


M:isk! 


(■11. 


Mask. 



NELsoKj ILHSTKATIONS 15 

I'l.A n; ( ■ 1 1 1. Vniiirr masks .iiiil ni.isUm.ls : 1 ( 1(;l'1 ), L' (tMLTi.s), 8 (S7X95), 1 (641'52), 

5 (tilJUij.O ((i42(i(;) -114 

CIV. FiiifieriiuisUs: 1 (24746), 2 (38648), I!, 4 (3(!23l) 416 

CV. Ki user masks: 1 (38451), 'J (33I2r.), 3 (33121) 418 

CVI. IVlts and armlet: 1 (37921), 2 (64221), 3 (176071) 420 

('\'1I. Objects etflu'd with mytlu)loi;ii' (ijturos: ti. Spear rest with 
ligiirc.a of thuiidcrbiids catc'hins wh;ilrs. (INDilM li. Ivory 
pipestcm with etclKjd lignrcs uf the ilkim wonii and the 

thmiderbird. (151li7ri) 44() 

Fifliue I. Sclirmc ot color on masks iiiid mask like ohjeets, jjravc boxes, aud 

totem markings 26 

2. Man's hood from Koriigumii;iimiit. (:!K657) 32 

3. Fox-skin cap 33 

4. Man's hood of reiudeiT and marmot skin and mink fnr. (37>J03)... 33 
r>. Mail's wolf-h.'ad snmnier hood iroin I'i>nit Hope. [iiVJlO) 34 

6. i;ar-(laps. (37398) 37 

7. Fi.-ih skin elothing b;igs: 1 (37(i31), 2 (37401) 43 

,'^. Clothing b.-ig of sealskin. (48099) 44 

9. King island man with labrets of lignite 47 

10. Kotzebne sound Jlalenint men aud women 49 

11. T:ittooing on wonn-n. («, .South of ^iikon month; h. ICast cape, 

Sibrtiia; c, Head of Kotzelnic sound > 50 

12. Tattooing on a St Lawreuee ishind girl :")() 

13. Tattooing on a woman of St. Lawrence ishmd .51 

14. Tattooing on a woman's arm. East cape, Siberia .51 

l.j. Circular forms of tattooing 52 

16. Hair combs: 1 (36374), 2 (48260), 3 (126985), 4 (45484), 5 (44765), 

6(63722) 57 

17. Ivory belt fastener. (44.523) 61 

18. Lam]) from Point Barrow 63 

19. Ivory carving representing a lamp ami stand 63 

20. Marrow spoon. (7519) 69 

21. Snow beaters: 1 (48995). 2 (49175), 3 (48161). 4 (44998), 5 (48162). .. . 77 

22. Snow shovels : 1 (36973), 2 (4i)143) 78 

23. Mallets: 1 (48999), 2 (48909), 3 (488a5) 79 

24. Woodchi.sels: 1 (43737), 2 (36397) 87 

2.5. Knife sharpeners: 1 (438.58). 2 (33047), 3 (46109),4 (().3.529),5 (43.S17). 90 

2(5. Flint llakers: 1 (63786),2 (64153),:! (37t)00),4 (37615), 5 (48,554) 91 

27. Wooden trinket box. (.3.59.55) 96 

28. Trinket bos. (49075) 98 

29. I5oot.-sole creaser. (7521) 108 

30. .Sinew twisters. (44688i Ill 

31. Sinew spinner from .St Lawrence ishind 112 

32. Stretched sealskin 116 

33. Method of folding sealskin 117 

34. Model of a deer snare. (18208) 119 

35. Etcliing on ivory showing (her snares. (7521) 120 

36. Game spits. (38488) 121 

S'i. Fox or wolf trap with sinew spring. (7510) 122 

38. Marmot trap. (3314(!) ._ 125 

39. Sealskin float. (129381, .d.l nnnilier 48330) .. .-. 141 

40. Cord attacher. (7.508) 144 

41. Coril attacher, obversi^ and rever.so. (7509) 145 

42. Spearpoints for birds and fish: 1 (384991. 2 (38783), 3 (44571), 4 

(43361), 5 (12G916), 6 ((-3.333), 7 (4,5519), 8 (4.5737) 150 



|g ILLl STI.'ATIONS [f.th.annIS 

Page 
l--,.r,„,. u. Throwing Bticks: 1 (.lilOOl), 2 (:;,S(!7(I), I! (:!:!S!17i, i (IWOIS), 5 (24355), 

ti(.r,:;'i(i( - 1 iiioo2).8 (i(i,s5si).!i(itu;itti;,i. id (ir.i;J4),ii (36018).... 154 

41. Fish arrows: 1 (1(30;!41), 2 (4ai«0), 3 (411014), 4 (48.34()),5 (48338). fi 

(63578),? (48.141).8 (411037). !»|3:;s58), 10(36161) 160 

45. Ivorvoriiiiments for hiintinj; helmets: 1 (37419). 2 (38325i. 3 (36477), 

4 ,'4!10I4),5 (320.14). 6 {36428). 7 (36408), 8 (43808) 16fl 



.nl hiuidlnof ivory. (7517) 



72 



kI lishin;; throii^'h sea U-v :it si Michiir-l 174 



(;ravliiii;- In 



180 



ining. 



„H.so„n,l 1^6 

50. jMesh of (li|)-ni't, maclf of sinew. (481123) 187 

51. Mesh of aip-iictiuiwle of willow liiirk. (48925) 187 

52. Mesh, float, uikI siuker of Iierriiig seine. (33871) 188 

53. Herring seine with stretcher at one end and with tloat and sinker. 

(43.3,53) l^'* 

.54. Sealskin-cord herring seine with stone sinker. il7liO!lO) 189 

.5.5. Wooden net lloat. (63.505) >90 

56. Ivory nnirlin.si)ike. (16143) W3 

57. Marlius])ike with boue point. (33100) 193 

.58. Woodeu paint liox. (38338) 200 

.51). Wooden paint box. (.351154 ) 200 

60. Clay pot from Hothain inlet 202 

til. Kaviak hunter with hand sleil 207 

62. Sled used on the Siberian shore of Bering strait. (176084) 208 

63. Snowshoes from Norton bay. (45400) 212 

64. Snowshoe from Cape Darby. (48092) 213 

65. Snowshoe from Icy cape. (63604 ) 213 

66. Snowshoe from St Lawrence island. (63236) 214 

67. leestalf. (45424) 215 

68. Ice staff. (73178) 215 

69. Ice creepers: 1 ami 1« (63881), 2 1 46260), 3 (44254). 4(126982). 5 

(63514 ) - 216 

70. Forms of umiak paddh's: «, from Kot/elme scmnd: /), from I'oint 

Hope 224 

71. Kaiak paddles from Point Harrow :iiid King island: 1 (811246), 2 

(160326) 225 

72. Ivory spear guard for kaiak. ( 176086 a) 227 

73. Ivory spi-ar guard for kaiak. ( 176086 h) 227 

74. Plan of house at St Micliael 242 

75. Storehouse! at St Michael 243 

76. Kashiin at St Michael 246 

77. Section of kashiin at St .Micli.iel 247 

78. Section of kashim at KiishuunI, 250 

79. Carved lamp sujiport 252 

80. Section of house at Ignituk 2.53 

81. Secfion of house at Ignituk 253 

82. Section of house at Cape Nome 254 

83. (iroiiuil plan of house at Cape Nome 254 

84. Walrus skin summer house on King island 256 

85. Eskimo village at ICast cape. Siberia 957 

86. House frame of whale ribs and Jawbone 259 

87. Section of houses on St Lawrene ■ island 260 

88. Sunimer camp af Hotham inlet 260 

89. Frame for. suinmer lodge, Hotham inlet 261 

90. Arrangement of summer camp at llotliaai inler 262 



NELSON) ILLUSTRATIONS 17 

Fi^^nre !)1. Sumnu-r loili;o at Caiie ThoMipsdU '2ii2 

92. Sites of ancient villaj;es at Capo Waukarein, Siberia 2(io 

93. Fungus useil for making a^he^ to mi.x with tob.icco. (433G6) 271 

94. I'ipc I'loin Kotzebuo sound. (1^133) 2f<l 

9.5. I'ipe I'rom fapu riiuoi of Wales. (7516) 281 

96. Respirator (front view). (38850) 288 

97. Lancet pointed with nephrite. (38797) 310 

98. Back .scratdier. (15107) 310 

99. Position in which the dead are bnricd at St Michael 311 

100. Method of disposing of the dead at St Michael 313 

101. Tosition of liurial of the dead on the lower VnUon 3U 

102. (irave boxes, Yukon delta 315 

103. liurial box at Razbinsky 316 

104. Memorial images at Cape Xancouvcr 317 

105. Monument board at a Big lake grave 319 

100. Grave box at Cape Nome 320 

107. Grave on St Lawrence island 321 

108. Arrowpoiut showing wolf totem signs. (43689) 322 

109. S|)earhead re|)rcseuting a wolf. (38442) 323 

1111. Spearhead representing a wolf. (43751) 323 

111. Spearhead ri'iiresenting an otter. (437.50) 323 

112. Spearhead representing an ermine. (36080) 323 

113. turfalcon totems on bow and seal spear 324 

114. Simple forms of the raven totem 324 

115. Raven totem tattooing on a I'lover bay boy 325 

116. Raven totems on smoke-hole cover 325 

117. Wolf tot(Mn signs on a storehouse door 325 

lis. Tobacco board with hear and loach signs. i48922) 326 

119. Figures on a grave box 326 

120. Boy with toy sled, St Lawrence island 331 

121. Dart. (45475) 334 

122. Top from Cape Prince of W. lies. (43:i71) 341 

123. Toy woodpecker. (,33798) : 341 

124. Toymouse. (48912) 342 

125. Toy representing a nmrrc swimming. (63178) 342 

126. Clay doll. (48735) 342 

127. Woodeudoll. (38345) 343 

128. Doll. (38351) 343 

129. Woodeudoll. (37878) 344 

130. Mechanical doll. (63814) 344 

131. Toy bear with dog harness. (6.3644) 345 

132. Toy dogs and sled. (63387) 345 

133. Toy bear. (63867) 346 

134. Toy kaiak from St Lawrence island. (63449) 346 

135. Ivory image of man and bear. (377.50) 346 

136. Drum handle. (63797) 351 

137. Drum handle. (33308) 351 

138. Ivory baton for beating time on a stick. (452.'<2) 352 

139. Wand used in asking festivaL (33804) 3.59 

140. Plan of kashiin during mortuary ceremony 36(i 

141. Maskoid representing a seal-head with rising air bubbles. (33115). 414 

142. Eagle-feather w.ind used in dances. (49061) 414 

143. Eagle-feather wand used in ilances. (45446) 415 

141. Armlet worn during dances. (45.336) 416 

145. Loonskin fillet worn in daiKH-s. (49079) 417 

18 ETH 2 



18 



(KTH.ANN 18 

ILU'^TRATIONS 

Page 

.... 417 

veM(i. K.inaeer-skin fillet, f'*'^^ V V ' i.^iuer'^v'^mls' !;;' ^ 418 

l.|8. Wristlet from Ik<.!,'mi.t. {M-'-^) 420 

11<) \n,iU>t worn in .lan.'cs. (48()Po) 43g 

150: Ko.i.'l. from a Malo.nnt '^■'';^|^ ' ,;■;-,:;,,;;;; ' " (4,381 ) ^39 

151. (irai-hite fetich ns..(l in nsht-wl.alotiM""..- ^ ^^^ 

r)2. Whalo fetich of woo.l. (ti4220) 4^^ 

m. i^haniau's doll fetich. (:«372) ... - ■ - - " " ' " "^ ■■_ ' ' " y^,,-;,, 444 

l-,l Drawing of a con,po8itoa,nmal in a. wooden tra^.^ ... 444 

15.. Drawing of the ;i.W-n„--,,»A on an unuak. (160-i>l). . ^^__ 

,57 ivorv carving of a composite anunal. (44143 .... - ^^^ 

15S ivorv carving representing tliemau-.vorm (4.>.-.0) ___ ^^^ 

1511. IvoiT carving of a mythic anunal. ('^'^^' -■■;:;,;•; -'jZj;;, 447 

U;o. Ivorv drag handle representing a composite an mal. (k.11) ^^_ 

1... ivory carving of a n,ermaid.lil<e<Wun3(-o^.^--------- ^^^ 

162 Ivorv Uoat handle with mermaid-l.ke hguie. i'-'^f]-- g 

63 Carv'ng representing a mermaid-liUe ereatur. (•' f «— - ;;- ^^^ 

101. ivory carving showing the face of a waln«-. ohl ^^^ 

105. Drawing of a nnthic creatnre in a w ooden tiay . (o.b4-; 



I'M 




THE ESKniO ABOUT BERING STHAIT 



By Edwakd Willi. vm >;klson 

INTItODI'UTOKY 

The collections and observations on wiiicli the present work is based 
were obtained by tlie writer during a residence of between four and five 
years in nortliern Alaska. Tiio fur-trading' station of St Michael, situ- 
ated about ()."» miles north of the Yukon delta and sonic '.'0(1 miles south- 
ward from IJering strait, was my headquarters duriiii; tlio greater period 
of my residence in that region. 

On June 17, 1877, 1 reached St Michael and remained there until the 
last of June. ISSl, except during the time consumed by a tiumber of 
excursions to various ])arts of the surrounding country. Owing to the 
fact that my otticial work was that of iinxniring an unbroken series of 
meteorological observations, whatever I did in other branches of science 
had to be accomi)li.shed in odd moments or during the short jieriods 
when the agents of the Alaska Commercial Company kindly relieved 
me of niy duties by making the necessary observations. 

During the first year I exi)lored the district lying immediately about 
St Michael. The next year my investigations were extended over a 
wider field, and on the 1st of December, 1878, I left St Michael in com- 
pany with Charles Petersen, a fur trader, each of us having a sledge 
and team of eight dog.s. We traveled southward along the coast to the 
mouth of the Yukon, and thence up that .stream to Andreivsky, which 
was Petersen's station and the second trading post from the sea. From 
this point we jiroceeded southwestward across the upper end of the 
Yukon delta, passing the eastern base of the Kusilvak mountains and 
reaching the seacoast just south of Cape Eomanzof at a previously 
unknown shallow bay. From this i)oint we proceeded southward, 
keeping along or near the coast until we reached Cape Yancouver, 
opposite Nunivak island. The second day beyond this jioint, Peter- 
sen, who had accompanied me thus far, said tlie weather was tdo bad 
to continue the journey and he therefore turned back. 

From the last-mcTitioned ])oint 1 proceeded, accompanied by an 
Eskimo, to the mouth of Kuskokwim river. Alter traveling some (Us- 
ance up its course we turned back toward the Yukon, which we reached 
at a point about a hundred miles above Andreixsky. Turning uj» the 
river the journey was (iontinued to Paiinut village, the last Fskinio 
settlement on the Yukon. At Paimut 1 turned and retraced my steps 
down the river and thence along the coast bacdc to St Michael. 



20 THE ESKIMO ABOUT liERING STRAIT [eth ann.18 

This expoclition coiiii>leIed a very successful recouuoissauce of a 
re.iiioii previdusiy almost completely unknown as reganls its geognipliic 
aiid etliiiiilogic features. A very line series of ethut)Iogic specimens 
•n-as obtained and many interestiug notes on the people were recorded; 
someof their curious winter festivals were witnessed, and several vocah- 
idaries were i)rocured. 

On November 0, ISSO, in company with a fur trader and two Eski- 
mo, I again left St Michael ou a sledge expedition. We proceeded 
np the coast of Norton sound to the bead of Norton bay, where we 
remained for some days. Thence we traveled along the coastline past 
C.olofuin bay to Sledge island, south of Bering strait. Owing to the 
fa(!t that the people of this district were ou the point of starvation our 
farther advance was prevented and I was forced to give up my contem- 
l)lated trip to Cape Prince of Wales and the islands of the strait at 
this time. We turned back from Sledge island and reached St Michael 
on April 3, after an extremely rough journey: but the series of notes 
and ethnologic specimens obtained on this reconnoissance are exten- 
sive and valuable. 

On November 16, 1880, in company with another fur trader, I left St 
Michael and crossed the coast mountains to the head of Anvik river, 
down whicli we traveled to its junction with the Yukon. At this point 
is located the fur-trading station of Anvik, which was in charge of 
my companion. Bad weather delayed us at this point for some time, 
but we finally set out, traveling up the Yukon, crossing Shageluk 
island, exploring the country to the head of Innoko river, and return- 
ing thence to Anvik. From the latter place I descended the Yukon to 
its mouth and went back to St Michael along the coast. On the way 
down the river 1 stopped at Razbiusky and witnessed one of the great 
Eskimo festivals in commemoration of the dead. 

As was the case iu all my sledge journeys, the main object in view 
was to obtain as large a series of ethnologic specimens and notes ou 
the character and customs of the people as was possible. Uii fortu- 
nately my limited time on these trii)s prevented any exteudeil inves- 
tigation into the customs and beliefs of the people, but the series of 
specimens obtained is unsurpassed in richness and variety. 

At the close of .Tune, 1881, the United States revenue steamer Coricni 
called at St Michael on her way north in search of the missing steamer 
Jeannette. By the (courtesy of the Secretary of the Treasury, Captain 
0. L. Hooper was directed to take me on board as naturalist of the 
expedition. During the rest of the season 1 was the guest of Captain 
Hoo])er and received many favors at his hands. 

We left St Michael and sailed to St Lawrence island, where the Cap- 
tain had been instructed to land me in order that 1 might investigate 
the villages which had been dei)opulated by famine and disease dnring 
the two i)receding winters. The surf was too heavy on the occasion of 
this visit to risk landing at the desired points, so we passed on to Plover 
bay, on the Siberian coast. Thence we coasted the shore of Siberia to 



NELSON] SCOPK 01' THE WOEK 21 

North cape, beyond r.ciiiig- strait, takiiii;- on board a sledge party 
which had been lelt tlicre early in the season. We tlieii returned to St 
Lawrence island, wliere a landing was ettected and a line series of valu- 
able specimens obtained, alter which we departed for St 3Iicliael 
where the collections were transferred to the Alaska Conunercial Coni- 
l)any's steamer for shipment to San Francisco, and the Coririn once 
more returned to the Arctic. Daring- the remainder of the season we 
visited all of the Arctic coast of Alaska from Bering strait to I'oint 
Barrow, including Kotzebue sound. 

The ethuologic collection obtained during my residence in the north 
numbers about ten thousand specimens, which are deposited in the 
United States jSational Museum, under the auspices of which my work 
in Alaska was done. With the exception of a. comparatively small 
number of specimens obtained among the Atha])ascau tribes of the 
lower Yukon and among the (Jhukcdii of eastern Siberia, tlie entire 
collection was obtained among tlie Eskimo. 

Since my return from Alaska Mr John Murdoch has reported on the 
collection and observations made by the International i'olar Expedi- 
tion at Point Barrow.' 

Although my collections cover many of the objects found along the 
northern coast, 1 have been more explicit in describing those from 
other i-egions visited by me rather than to duplicate the work of Jlr 
Murdoch. Tlie preparation of the present work has been delayed from 
Viirious unavoidable causes, but despite the length of time which has 
elapsed since my observations were made, but little has appeared 
regarding the customs of the Eskimo in the region visited by me. 
This being the case, the data collected at a time when the life of the 
majority of the natives had not been so greatly moditied bj- intercourse 
with white men as at present, are of particular value. Since then the 
introduction of missionary schools and the gold mining excitement 
have resulted in greatly changing the status of many of the i)eople, 
and as a natural consequence their old customs and beliefs are rapidly 
falling into disuse or are becoming greatly modified. 

In this work I have contuied myself to recording the information 
obtained and have made no attempt to elaborate any of the umtter by 
generalizations. However imi)erfect my observations were in many 
cases, I trnst the information gained will serve as a basis for fuller 
investigation of a very interesting field. 1 was placed under great 
indebtedness for favors received from the Alaska Commercial Comi)aiiy 
and its oflicers at St Mi(-hael during my residence at that point. 
Through the cordial assistance of Mr liudolph jS'eumann and the late 
M. Lorenz, who volunteered to carry on my meteorological observa- 
tions during periods of absence from St Mi<;hael, I was enabled to 
accomplish much work that would have been imjjracticable without 
such aid. 1 am also indebted to Mr Neumann for several of the tales 
from St Michael. 



' Niiitb Annual Kijjort (if Iha Jiureau of Elhiiolii;^}-, 18*7-68. 



22 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



1 „n fiirtliprpd niv work with voluntary 
Tlip fur traders, one and all, luitueieu my ""^ 

M » ami D,- wilt.r Ilougl, of the U„it,..l St».e» Sat.o.K.l Mnse,,, 
""."le,- .„edal ..blisatiou. for U.eir „,„am„g '™",'«': »"^ » ' 
a„hta,i.-e .U..i..g the preparatio., »f this work. I « tsh »1m. o eM.ress 
,v« se of obliitio,/t,. Ml- Well. M.Sawyer. ilh,3,,-at„,-.,.hen,,.ea., 

"1 Ammca.i EtSnoh.g.v, for ...any ™sse.ti„„. and other lav.,,-, whtle 

arranging the illustrations. 

ALPITABET 
The following alphabet is used in writing all Eskimo names of places, 
etc, in this memoir : 



b 
ch 
a 
A] 



as a in fatter, 
as in what, 
as a in liat. 
as «ic in law. 
as lit in aisle, 
as ow in linw. 
as i iu blab, 
as eh in (.■liMrcb. 
as d iu tlreail. 
asj in judge, 
as (• iu tlu'}'. 
as e iu then, 
as ./'in tife. 
as (7 in get. 
an aspiratctl ;/. 
a harshly aspirated Q. 
as /( iu ha. 
a siil't aspiration. 

a soiiuil foTiui^il by placing the 
tiiinjue iuthe piisition assnmi'd at 
thi' end of the pronunciation of 
/ and then giving an aspirated 
continuation of the sound, 
as i ill pii|Ue. 
as i in pick, 
as - in azure. 
as k in kick. 

a soft aspiration of the /. sound. 
a hanl palatal prolongation or aspi- 
ration of A. 



ku 



hw 



a nasal soiiud fumed in tlieroofof 

the mouth hy the bleiuling of the 

A: into the n. 
as I iu lull. 
an aspirated /. 

a harsher aspirated sound than /'. 
as m in mum. 
as II iu uun. 
as nri in sing, 
as iu note. 

as iu home, with a short pronun- 
ciation. 
as p in ])ipe. 
an aspirated p. 

as )■ in roaring, 
as s in sauce. 

as sh in should. 

as / ill toiicli. 

as lie in little. 

as Is iu tsar. 

as " in rule. 

as H iu pull. 

as « in hut. 

as !• iu valor. 

as w in wish. 

the H- soiukI. beginning with an aspi- 
ratitui. 

as 3/ ill you. 

as r iu zone. 



The color scheme itsed in the drawings representing totem marks, 
grave boxes, masks, etc., is shown in tigure 1, page 20. 










< 


-F 






tr 


O 




o 


h- 


D 




> 


o 


III 


H 


^— 




1- 


O 


CO 


cc 

UJ 
CQ 


W 




LU 


1- 


Q 






D 
O 

m 
< 



5 5 



!□ 

ID 



o 


u 


.to 


n^ 


•r 


> 


n 


I- 




3 


a! 






.^ 




Ul 


m 


m 


> 


o 



SKETCH OF THK WKSTKIJN ESKIMO 

GKOCiUAPIIIC FKA rriiKS OF rilDIi; W.VXCK 

Tlii'.t portion of the western Kskinio (lesciii)e(l in the jtreseiit work 
is toiuid mainly within the limits of the area wiiieli I have desifinated 
elsewhere as the Alaskan-Arctic district. This rej-'ion includes the 
treeless coast belt, from 3 to 100 miles in width, which extends from 
the peiansula of Alaska northward to Point I'arrow, including the 
adjacent islands. The Eskimo jjenef late the interior of the country to 
the forested region along the courses of the larger streams. Their 
range into the interior is mainly along Kuskokwim, Yukon, Kowak, and 
Noatak rivers. On all of these streams they are found several hun- 
dred ndles from the coast, and at their upper limits are in direct (tontact 
with the Athapascan or Tinni' tribes. In addition to the Eskimo of 
the Alaskan mainland and adjacent islands, within the lindts Just 
mentioned, \ \isited also the Eskimo of the neighboring Siberian coast 
from I'^ast cape to Plover bay and St Lawrence island. The li\es of 
th(?se people adjacent to the Tinue, as well as those of the Siberian 
coast who are in constant contact with the ('hukchi, have been some- 
what modified by their surroniidings,. although in their language and 
customs they are still unmistakal)ly lOskimo. The people of the 
Siberian coast and of St Lawrence island are the most aberrant group 
of Eskimo encountered within the area covered by my work. 

The belt bordering the Alaskan coast of Bering sea belonging to 
this district is mainly low, and much of it consists of broad, marshy 
tracts which are but little above sea level. This is paiticularly the 
case in the large, roughly triangular rrea lying between lower Kusko- 
kwim and Yukon ri\ers. To the northward of this the country is more 
broken or rolling in character, rising gradually in many plac(>,s to low, 
niountainons masses, several hundred feet in height and coming down 
to the coast at intervals as babl headlands. The islands of I'.ering 
straits are small and rocky and rise prei-ipitously from the water, as 
does much of the adjacent Siberian shore. St Lawrence island is large 
and has an undulating surface with rocky headlands at intervals along 
the coast. 

North of Iicring strait the country is generally rolling, with tlat 
areas about the head of Kotzebne sound and north of Icy cape. South 
of the strait the coast (country has a mildly an-tic climate, but to the 
northward the results of a more rigorous environment appear in both 
plant and animal life. The climate of the Siberian coast is much 
severer than that of the adjacent Alaskan shore. 



24 THE ESKnro about Bering strait [eth.u.-n.is 

Everywhere soutli of Point Hope a pleutitiil arctic vegetation is 
found. Altbougli tlie country is destitute of trees, along the courses 
of streams and in sheltered spots on the southern slojjes of hills a more 
or less abundant growth of willows and alders is found. This is the 
case even at the head of Kotzebue sound, directly under the Arctic 
circle. Over a large portion of the low, gently rolling coirntry are beds 
of si)hagnum interspersed with various grasses and flowering plants. 
Inland, along the water courses, there occur spruce and white birch in 
addition to the plants which are found nearer the coast. The villages 
of the western Eskimo are located always near the sea or directly along 
the water courses, such situations being necessitated by their depend- 
ence for the greater portion of their subsistence on game and the fish 
obtained from the watirs in their vicinity. 

Driftwood is abundant along most parts of the American coast within 
the region discussed in this work, and the food supply also is more 
abundant than is found in most regions inhabited by the eastern 
Eskimo, so that the conditions of life with the Alaskan people are 
much more favorable. The shores of Bering sea north of the Kusko- 
kwim mouth are icebound from early in November until about the end 
of 3Iay or early June of each year. Xorth of Bering strait the sea ice 
is ])resent for a somewhat longer period. 

Although the aborigines living along the American coast from Point 
Harrow to Kuskokwim river are not separated by physical barriers, 
they are divided into groups characterized by distinct dialects. 

DISTRIBrTIOX <)1'^ TRIBKS VXD UIAT^ECTS 

The Shaktolik people told me that in ancient times, before the Rus- 
sians came, the Unalit occupied all the coast of Norton sound from Pas- 
tolik northward to a point a little beyond Shaktolik. At that time the 
southern limit of the Malcmut was at the head of Norton bay. They 
have since advanced and occupied village after village until now the 
lieople at Shaktolik and TJnalaklit are mainly Malemut or a mixture of 
Malenmt and Unalit. Tliey added that since the disappearance of the 
reindeer along the coast the Malemut have become much less numerous 
than formerly. 

Various Russians and others, who were living in that region in 1S72 
and 1S73, informed nie that at that time there were about two hundred 
people living in the village of Kigiktauik, while in 1881 I found only 
about twelve or fourteen. At the time first named tlie mountains bor- 
dering the coast in that neighborhood swarmed with reindeer, and in 
addition to the Unalit numy Malemut had congregated there to take 
advantage of the hunting. 

During November, 1880, I found a family of Malenmt living in a 
miserable hut on the upper part of Anvik river. As stated else- 
where, these i)eople have become spread over a wide region. About 
the middle of March, 1880, between Cape Nome and Sledge island, I 



NELSON] TRIBES AND lUALECTS 25 

foiinil a village occujiicd by a mixture of jx'ople from i\iiig island iu 
IJeiiiig strait, SU'dge island, and otliers from dilfercnt ])arts of Kaviak 
peninsula. These i>eoi)le liad united there and were living peaceably 
together iu order to fish for crabs and tomcods and to hunt for seals, 
as the supply of food had become exhausted at their homes. 

There are few i)laces among the dillereut divisions of the people living 
between Yukon and Ivuskokwim rivers where a sharj) demarkation is 
found in the language as one passes from village to village. In every 
village iu this region tliey have had friendly intercourse with one 
another for many years, and intermarriage has constantly taken place. 
They visit each other during their festivals, and their hunting and 
fishing grounds meet. All of these causes have aided, since tlie ces- 
sation of the ancient warfare which served to keep them separated, in 
increasing the intercourse between them and have had a tendency to 
break down the sharp distinctions that existed in their dialects. Tiie 
language used iu this region, south of the Yukon mouth, is closely 
related to that of the Lrnalit along the shore of Norton Minnd iiortli of 
the Yukon. 

The greatest distinctions in language api)eared to be in the curious 
modification of the sounds of the vowels, these being lengthened or 
shortened in a different manner, thus causing the pronunciation to be 
differently intoned in the two districts. The Nunivak island peojtle 
and those living at (Jape ^'ancouver, however, ap[)ear to spealc a lan- 
guage (juite sharply divided from that of their neiglibors. 

As it is, one of the natives from any i)ortion of the district south of 
the Yukon mouth, except on Nunivak island or Cajjc Vancouver, cau 
readily make liiniself understood when visiting villages of the lower 
Y'ukou or among (he Unalit of Norton sound. The distinction between 
the T'nalit and Kaviagmut Ivskimo, or the Unalit and the Maleuuit, is 
considerable, and people speaking these tongues do not readily com- 
municate at once, although it takes but a short time for them to learn 
to talk with one another. The dialect of the people of Point Hope 
appears to differ but slightly from that used at the head of Kotzebue 
sound. Tljere is such a general resemblan<!e between the diale(;ts 
spoken by the Eskimo of the Alaskan mainland that a person belonging 
to one district very (juickly learns to understand and speak other dia- 
lects. My TTualit iuteri)reter from St Michael accompanied nii^ on the 
Coriciii, and when at Plover bay, on the eastern coast of Siberia, man- 
aged to understand a considerable ]iortion of what the ])eoi>le of that 
l)oint said. He had great ditliculty, however, in comi>reiiending the 
language of the St Lawrence islanders, and in fact could undei'stand 
but few words spoken by them. P>()tii at Kast Va\m and at I'loverbay, 
on the Siberian coast, there were many words that 1 could understand 
from my knowledge of the Unalit tongue gained at St Michael. The 
])eoi)le of St Lawrence island and Plover bay are closely related and 
the dialects spoken by them nw very similar, so that tiiey have no difli- 
cultv in comnumicating with each otliei'. 



2G 



THK ESKIMO Al'.OUT BIRRING STKAIT 



ETH. ANN. 18 



The, Point Barrow Eskimo occupy tlie coast from Cape Lisburue to 
Point Barrow. The Maleimit inhabit the country from Point Hope 
around the shores of Kotzebue sound to beyond Cape Bspenberg-, and 
thence south to Unaktolik river. From this point southward to the 
Yukon mouth, inchiding- St Michael island, are the Unalit or Unalig- 
nmt. The people of Cape Prince of Wales, Port Clarence, aud King 
island are the Kifiugumut. The people occupying the coast from Port 
Clarence and around to Cape ]S"ome, Golofnin bay, and Nubviukhchug- 
aliik, including the interior of the jieninsula back from the coast country 
as well as Sledge (Aziak) island, are Kaviagnuit. 

The people of the Diomede islands and of East cape, Siberia, are a 
group of I'iSkinu) of whom I failed to obtain a special desigiiatiou. 

South of this point the Eskimo of Plover bay and the ueighboriug 
coast form another group. The people of St Lawrence island form 
still another group, and of these also I failed to record any si)ecial 
designation. 

The ])eople of the lower Yukon, fi'om Paiinut down to the vicinity of 
I'astolik, including the Yukon delta, are the Ikogmut. The Magemut 
are the people occupying the low, marshy country back from the lower 
Yukon, between it aud the Kuskokwim, extending from a line just 
back of the Kuskokwim northwesterly to the coast between Cape 
Pomanzof and tlie Kusilvak branch of the Yukon mouth. 

The Nuuivaguiut are the people of Nunivak island and the main- 
land at Cape Vancouver. 

The Kaialigamut are the people occupying the coast northward from 
Cape Vancouver to Kushunuk, Kaialigamut, and the adjacent villages. 
The Kuskokwagmut are the people occupying the villages along the 
lower Kuskokwim and the adjacent country to the north of that point 
to a line where begin the other divisions already named. 






BLUE RED BROWN 

'.jects. grave bosus, :iiid totem irmrkinus. 



PHYSICAL ClIARArTERI8TrCS 



The Eskimo from P.ering strait to the lower Yukon are fairly well- 
built people, averaging among the men about 'i feet 2 or 3 inches in 
height. Tlie Yukon Hskinio and those living southward from that 
river to the Kuskokwim are, as a rule, shorter and more squarely built. 
The Kuskokwim people are darker of complexion than those to the 
northward, and have rounder features. The men commonly Lave a 
considerable growth of hair on their faces, becoming at times a thin 



NELsuNl SOMATIC FEATl-RER -27 

beard two or three inches in length, with a well (hnelopod inustariic 
(plates IV, V). No such dcvelopiiieiit of beard was seen elsewlicrc in 
the territory visited. 

The people in the coast region between tln^ mouths of tlie Kuskokwim 
and the Yukon liave i)eculiarly high cheek boues ami sliarp chins, wlii(di 
unite to give their faces a curiously pointed, triangular ajjpearance. 
At the vilhige of Ivaialigamut I was impressed by the strong develoi)- 
nient of the superciliarj- ridge. From a point almost directly o\cr the 
pupil of the eye, and extending thence ijiward to the medum line of 
the forehead, is a strong, bony ridge, causing the brow to stand out 
sharply. From the outer edge of this the skull appears as though 
beveled away to the ears, giving the temporal area a considerable 
enlargement beyond that usually shown. This curious development of 
the skull is reiulercd still njore striking by the fact that the bridge 
of the nose is low, as usual among these people, so that the shelf-like 
projection of the brow stands out in strong relief. It is most strongly 
marked among the men, and appears to be characteristic at this place. 
Elsewhere in this district it was noted only rarely here and there. 

All of the people in the district about Cai)es \'ancouver and Koman- 
zof, and thence to the -Yukon mouth, are of unusually light complexion. 
Some of the women have a pale, slightly yellowish color, with jiink 
cheeks, differing but little in complexion from that of a sallow woman 
of Caucasian blood. This light complexion is so exceptionally striking 
that wherever they travel these people are readily distinguished from 
other Eskimo: and before I visited their territory I had learned to know 
them by their complexion whenever they came to St .Michael. 

The peo])lo of the district just mentioned are all very short and 
squarely built. Inland from Cape ^'ancouve^ lies the flat, marshy coun- 
try about Big lake, which is situated between the Kuskokwim and the 
Yukon. It is a well-i)opulated district, and its inhabitants dilfer from 
those near the coast at the capes referred to in being taller, more 
slender, and having more squarely cut features. They also differ strik- 
ingly from any other I'jskimo with whom 1 came in contact, except those 
on Kowak river, in having the bridge of the nose well (levelo|)ed and 
at times suHicnently prominent to suggest the a(iuilinc nost^ of our 
Southern Indian tribes. 

The Eskimo of the Dioniede islands in Bering strait, as well as those 
of East cape and Mechigme and lMo\erbays on the Siberian coast, and 
of St Lawrence island, are tall, strongly built people, and are generally 
similar in their physical features (plates xi,xii). Thesearecharacteri/ed 
by the unusual heaviness of the lower i)art of the face, due to the very 
square and massive lower Jaw, which, combined with broad, high cheek 
bones and tiatteiied nose, i)roduces a wide, Hat face. These features are 
fre(piently acconq)anied with a low, retreating forehead, jjroduciug a 
decidedly repulsive physiognomy. The bridge of the nose is so low 
and the (dieek bones so heavy that a prolile view will fri<iueutly shttw 



28 THE ESKIMO ABOUT I'.EIJIXG STRAIT (eth.axn.is 

only tlie tip of the iieisoirs nose, the eyes and upper portion of the 
nose being completely hidden by the j)ronilnent outline of the cheek. 
Their eyes are less oblique than is common aniouo- the people living 
southward from the Yukon nunith. Among the people at the north- 
western end of St Lawrence island tliere is a greater range of i^hysiog- 
nomy than was noted at any other of the Asiatic localities. 

The Point Hope ])eople on the Americau coast have heavy jaws and 
well developed superciliary ridges. At Point Barrow the men are 
remarkable for the irregularity of their features, amounting to a posi- 
tive degree of ugliness, which is increased and rendered specially 
prominent by the expression produced by the short, tightly drawu 
upper lip, the projecting lower lip, and tlie small beady eyes. The 
women and (children of this place are in curious coutrast, having rather 
pleasant features of the usual type. 

The Eskimo from uj)per Kowak and Xoatak rivers, who were met 
at the summer camp on Ilotham inlet, are notable for the fact that a 
considerable number of them have hook noses and nearly all have a 
cast of countenauce very similar to that of the Yukon Tinue. They 
are a larger and more robustly built people than these Indians, how- 
ever, and speak tlie Eskimo language. They wear labrets, jiractice 
the tonsure, and claim to be Eskimo. At the same time they wear 
bead-ornamented hunting shirts, round caps, and tanned deerskiu robes, 
and use conical lodges like those of the adjacent Tinue tribes. Among 
them was seen one man having a mop of coarse curly hair, almost 
negroid in character. The same feature was observed in a number of 
men and women on the Siberian coast between East cape and Plover 
bay. This latter is undoubtediy the result of the Chukchi-Eskimo 
mixture, and in the case of the man seen at Hotham inlet the same 
result had been brought about by the Eskimo-Indian combination. 
Among the Eskimo south of Bering strait, on the American coast, not 
a single instance of tliis kind was observed. Tlie age of the individ- 
uals having this curly hair renders it quite improbable that it came 
from an admixture of blood with foreign voyagers, since some of them 
must have beeu born at a time when vessels were extremely rare along 
these shores. As a further argument against this curly hair having 
coTue from white men, I may add that I saw no trace of it among a 
number of people having partly Caucasian blood. As a general thing, 
the Eskimo of the region described have small hands and feet and the 
features are oval in outline, rather Hat, and with slightly oblique eyes. 

Chiklren and young girls have round f;ices and often are very pleasant 
and attractive in feature, the angular race characteristics becoming 
lirominent after the individuals approach manhood. The women age 
rapidly, aud only a very small proi)ortion of the people live to an 
advanced age. 

The Malenuit and the people of Kaviak peninsula, including those 
of the islands in Bering strait, are tall, active, and remarkably well 



^KLsox] INSEXSIIilLITY TO EXrosCRE 29 

built. Among- tlieiii it is coiiiiiioii to see iiicii trdin r> lect 10 inclics to 
G feet tall aud of i)ioi)ortioiiate build. 1 .slioiild Jtid-e tiie average 
among tliem to be nearly or (luite e(iual in height to tlie wliites. 

Among the eoast Kskimo, as a rule, the legs are short and poorly 
develoi)ed. while the body is long, with dispro]iortioMatelj' dineloped 
dorsal and lumbar musch's. due to so much of tiiclr life being passed 
in the kaiak. 

The Eskimo of the I'.ig lake district, south of tiie ^ ukou. and from 
the Kaviak peninsula, as well as the Malemut about the head of Kot- 
zebue sound, are, on the contrary, very finely projjortioued and athletic 
men, who can not be equaled among the Indians of the Vukon region. 
This fine physical development i.s attributable to the fact that these 
people are so located that their hunting is largely on open tundra or in 
the nH)untains, thus producing a more symmetric development tiiau is 
jjossible among those whose lives are passed mainly in tlie kaiak. 

Tiiere were a number of halfblocid ehildien among the Eskimo, 
resulting from the intercourse witli people from vessels aud others, 
who generally show their Caucasian blood by large, finely shaped, and 
often remarkably beautiful brown eyes. The nund)er of these mixed 
bloods was not very great. 

As a race the Eskimo are very hardy and insensible to cold. While 
the Coririn was at anchor in Hothani inlet during the fall of ISSl, 1 
found a ^Maleuuit woman with two little girls, one about two years and 
the other five years of age, lying fast asleep on the deck of the vessel 
clothed only in their ordinary garments. A very raw wind was blow- 
ing at the time, and it was dirticult fin- us to keep warm even while 
moving about in lieavy overcoats. 

While I was at the head of Norton sound duiing Feljruary, when 
the temi)erature stood at minus 4t)^ Fahrenheit, a boy HI years of age, 
with a sled and three dogs, was sent back several miles along the 
previous day's trail to recover a pair of lost snowshoes. He staited 
off alone and returned a few hours later with the snowshoes. his cheeks 
glowing red from the cold, but without other indii;ari(iu of the eft'ect 
of the temperature. 

The men lead a hard ami perilous life in the districts i)ordering the 
sea, where much of the hunting is done in kaiaks. In spring they go 
long distances offshore, and are sometimes cast adrift on the moving 
ice, reciuiring the greatest effort to return to the laud. In a nundx'i' 
of instances that came to my notice men were Ibiced to spend one or 
two days lighting their way back to shore in their kaiaks, after having 
been tlriven seaward by a strong wind. 

In addition, the constant wetting and exposure Ihroughout the entire 
year helps gradually to undermine the strength of the natives: as a 
result, consumption and rheunuitie (;omplaints are common, and l)ut 
few live to an advanced age. Families rarely have more than two or 
three children, and it is not uncommon for them to ha\e none. 



30 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth ann. 18 

CT:<)TnixG 

GAiniKNTS IN (iENERAL 

The gnrmoiits of tlie wester i Eskimo are similar in general plaii to 
tliose woru by their relatives farther eastward, but vary locally in pat- 
tern aua stvle of oruamentation. The upper i)art of the body of both 
men and women is covered with a froeklike garment ])ut on over the 
head and iu the greater part of the area visited these garments are 
provided with a hood. In addition, both men and women wear trousers. 
Those of the men are made to reaeb from the hip to the aukle, the feet 
being clothed with socks of deerskin or grass, over which skin boots 
•ue drawn The lower garments of the women are combined boots and 
trousers reaching to the waist. Over the feet are sometimes drawn 
skin boots, but frequently a sole of oiltanncd sealskin is attached 
directly to the trousers. ,„ i i • 

On the Diomede islands, along the eastern shore ot the Chukchi 
peninsula, and on St Lawrence island the women wear a curious garment 
having a loose waist, tlowing sleeves, and very baggy trousers reaching 
to the ankles. They put this on by thrusting the head and teet into a 
slit-like opening iu the back, which is then laced up. The feet and 
lower part of the legs are then encased iu skin boots tied about the 
ankles. Usually these (combined garments are loosely made, without 
hoods, and are opened broadly at the neck, with a narrow trimn.mg ot 
wolverine or other fur about the border. They are worn usually with 
the hair inside, and the smooth outer surface becomes greasy and 
begrimed so that they present a curious appearance. Small children 
dressed in these garments waddle about and appear to move with the 
greatest ditficulty. Very young children on the coast named are pla.-ed 
in these combination garments with the ends of the sleeves and legs 
sewed up, so that nothing but the face of the child can be seen. 

In addition the women of this region wear a frock like outer garment 
reaching down to midway between the waist and knee and provided 
with a iiood. The hood is trimmed with wolverine skin or other lur, 
the long hairs projecting halo like about the face. In front is a broad 
bib like tlap, usuallv made from the short-hair skin taken from the 
reindeer's legs, which hangs down over the breast. Sometimes, how- 
ever, these flaps are replaced by a long, narrow gore of white reindeer 
skin', sewed over the shoulder on each side of the neck and extending 
down the front. Very little eftbrt is made to ornament the garments 
among any of the people save those of St Lawrence island, where they 
are oi'nameuted with tassels made from strips of fur taken from the 
hair-seal pup and dyed a reddish brown. Kows of the crests and horny 
bill sheaths from the crested auklet are also sewed along the seams. 
Similar ornamentation was observed in lesser degree along the Siberian 
shore. 





■^ 




<- f 

<« 







nbl8on: SlUEKIAN AND ALASKAN GAKMF.NTS ,"} 1 

Tlie illustratioii plate xivi tVoin a ])liot(),L;i';>i>li taken of a i)arty of 
women and cliihlren from East Cai)e, Siberia, nives an idea of the fjar- 
nients described. Tbe woman on the left wears one of the eoinbinatiou 
garments with the fur side out. the one ou the right having the gar- 
ment turned with fur inward, and the two central tigiiies wear tlu^ frock 
in addition. 

.Most ot' the garments worn by these i)eo])le are maib> from the skins 
of tame reindeer, although those of wild reindeer are used to a limited 
extent. Tbe baudsouudy mottled coats t>f tlie tame deerserve to render 
some of the clothing ratlicr ornamental m ai)i)earance. On .St Lawrence 
island and tbe Diomedes tbe skins of waterfowl are sometimes used 
for making the outer frock like garment for both men and women of 
the poorer class. Their boots are usually of reindeer .skin, generally 
taken from the leg of the animal, with a sole of tanned sealskin. 

Crossing Bering strait to tbe American shore we tind the garments 
for men and women closely alike in general .style over a wide area. 
They are practically identical in pattern northward to J'oint Barrow 
and southward to the Yukon mouth, including King and Sledge islands. 

The garments worn by the men consist of a skin frock, which is put 
on over tbe head and has a hood variously bordered by strips of skin. 
These borders are made usually of an outer strip of wolfskin with the 
long hairs standing out like a halo, as before described. Just within 
this is sewed another belt or band of skin from the wolverine so that 
the long outer hairs lie back against the wolfskiu border, producing a 
pleasing' contrast. These halo like borders, when the hood is drawn 
up, surround the face and give a ])ietures(]ue appearance to the wearer 
(plates IV, xiii/>, xvrt). Tbe back of tbe hood is made usually of several 
jiieces sewed in such a way as to take tbe form of tbe bead. A gore 
usually extends from tbe top of the shoulders at the base of the hood 
down on each side of the chest, and is generally of white-hair skin 
from the belly of the reindeer. The sleeves and lower border of this 
garment are fringed with a narrow band of wolf or wolverine skin. 
These garments may be made of the skins of wild or tame reindeer. 
Parry's marmot, muskrats, uiink, or waterfowl, such as cormorants, 
anklets, nuirres. eider ducks, or loons, and in the region southward of 
tbe Yukon mouth the skins of emperor and whitelront gee.se are also 
used for this purpose. One such garment is made from the skins ot 
Scaup ducks, with the hood of Parry's marmot skins, and is bordered 
arouud the bottom with a narrow fringe of wolfskin. On the lower 
Yukon very ])oor peoi)le utilize even tbe skins of salmon for making 
their frocks. 

The trousers of the men extend from tlie hii»s to the ankles and are 
rather awkwardly made. They are fastened about the waist with a 
drawstring in a looj) of skin sewed along tin* border. A variety of 
materials are u.sed, including wild and tame reindeer, sealskin, dogskin, 
and white-bear skin. The trousers made from the skins of reindeer 
are sometimes worn with the hair inward ilnring cold weather or with 



32 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [kth. 



tlie Lair outward wlieii it is warmer. Of late years these people diuiiij];' 
tbe Slimmer wear shirts and trousers of calico and drilling' obtained 
from the fur traders. Ordinary cotton shirts also are worn by them. 

Eeaching the lower Knskokwim and adjacent country to the nortb, 
the men wear frocks similar to those hitherto described, but so long 
that when at full length they reach the ground about the wearer's feet. 
When traveling these frocks are drawn up and belted about the waist 

until the lower border reaches 
^^t;^ . only to the knee. They are 

I * ^ - made usually from the skins of 

^ v Parry's marmot or a species of 

whistler found in tlie mountains 
south of tilt- lower Iviiskokwim 
district, and are ornamented 
,^ with the tails of the animals, 

\^ which are set on, fringe-like, 

J ^ with each skin hanging -'ll 

about the person. They are 
<r made generally without hoods 

ht and the neck is bordered by the 

'^fe skin of the Arctic hare or white 

t fox. or more commonly by a roll- 

-1^ like edge of deerskin with the 

W hair on. A gore is set in on 

'S each side of the neck over the 

V ) chest, or sometimes a single 

"^ broader gore extends down the 

^ I middle in front. The sleeves 

may be bordered by the white- 
liair skin of the reindeer's belly, 
and bands of the same are some- 
times set in around the body 
or near the lower border. lu 
' "k. f^ place of hoods the wearers of 
'*^^^^Se? these frocks have fur caps with 
ear laps for tying under the 
chin. Their trousers are sim- 
, ,, ,. _ . ,, ilar to tliose already described. 

n il 111 > 1 (111 II Ji^iiiiigiiiiiigmiint (jJi-.). ■' 

On the tundra betw'cu the 
Kuskokwim and the lower Yukon there are worn similar, but shorter, 
hoodless frocks. In place of the fur caps described as worn by the 
Kuskokwim people these tundra men wear curious headdresses made 
of various skins. 

One of these (figure 1'), from Konigunuguiiiut, is a hood made of the 
skins of Parry's marmot with a border about the face of reindeer skin 
with the hair on. The hood is Ijordered also along its lower edge by a 





NELSON] HOODS AND CAPS 33 

strip, about two inches wide, of reindeer skin and has a narrow band 
extendinj;' up from tliis over tlie crown. About the lower border, on the 
sides and behind, extends a fringe consisting of narrow strips of rein- 
deer skin, 12 to 15 inches in length, which 
hangs (h)wn tlie back. v 

Anotlier variety of hood worn in this district ' 

is made of a band of deerskin, with the liair 
on, sewed to lit about tlie brow like a turban ^, , /j 

with the crown of skins of Parry's marmot, or 
of white or blue foxes. When the marmot ' . ,v ' ""^ 

skins are used they are usually sewed in a , / • '< 

series so as to hang behind like an open sack. /^^ , 

If the fox skins are used they are sewed so / | '', 
that the head of the fox rests on the crown of | < , 

the wearer with the body and tail hanging -' / > 

down over the back. These caps are very ])ic- ■ ' \ 

tnres(iue and give the wearer a remarkably 
dignified appearance. 

In the region about Askinuk curious small 

fur caps or hoods are worn, fitting snugly about 

the head and fringed behind by a few little 

tags or strips of skin, but which do not hang 

far down the back like those last described. 

These hoods are made in ornamental patterns from various kinds of 

skin. 

A hood of reindeer and nnirmot skin from Askinuk (figure t) has 

_ ^^va^„ '^ circular piece of reindeer skin 

■*,'■■ set in the middle of the crow n; 

^^^^m. -^S^ this is surrounded by two strips 

^^ '''** of white reindeer skin taken 

:' from the leg of the animal with 

, , .^^ the hair dijiped. Following 

this is a broader strip of similar 
reindeer skin, alternating with 
a s(|uare of dark-hair reindeer- 
skin on the top and nuuinot 
skins on each side, succeeded 
by another strip of reindeer skin 



, 


' I t 


' / ^ 


^ v5 




/;> 




if 


lO. 3— Fox skin 


■■up. 



SNi 



'm 




anil l)ordered about the face by 

a narrow fringe of mink fur. 

S J^ Sindlar caps were obtained at 

Fia. 4 — Man'a hood of reiudeer aud marmot ekiu and Ivonif"nnU"'Umut 

mink fur (J). , '^ ''^ ' ,, , . ^ 

In summer the r^skimo of 

Xoatak aiul Kowak rivers wear beadornamented caps similar to those 

of the Tinne along the upper Yukon. On the shore of the Arctic at 

Point Hope the si)ecimen represented in figure a was obtained. This 

18 ETH 3 



34 



THE ESKIMO AHOIT BERING STKAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 




4-' 



is a handsomely made hood iasliioued from tlie skin of a wolf's head, 
the nose of the animal resting diiectly over the brow and extending 
back over tlie head, so that tlie ears of the animal lie on the nape of 
the wearer's neck. From Just back of the nose to a point iiearly 
between the ears the skin is slit and an oval piece of skin, tanned with 
the hair ofl', is set in, and along it are sewed ten paiallel, longitudinal 
rows of blue beads. Little strings of red, white, blue, and black beads 

aie attached to the 
sides of the head 
from just back of the 
wolf's nose, down 
alongeach side, two- 
^_^_ thirds of the way to 

*'"'' the ears. Sewed to 

_ the front border of 

"" ' . the hood is a strip of 

i-: long-hair wolfskin, 
\ ■" and two strings at 
the corners in front 
^ serve to tie it about 
the wearer's chin. 
,j;r From the Yukon 

' Ai) ' mouth northward to 

Point Barrow the 
frocks of the men are 
cnt a trifle longer 
behind than in front. 
South of the Yukon , 
these garments are 
cut nearly the same 
length all around. 

Many of the Ko- 
wak and Noatak 
men seen at Hotham 
inlet wear hunting 
shirts of tanned 
moose-skin similar 
to those used by the 
Tinue of the inte- 
rior, from whom they were i)robably obtained. These Eskimo also wear 
robes made from reindeer skin tanned with the hair on. These are 
made to fasten over the shoulders by two cords, and fall b(diind nearly 
to the ground like a cloak. They are usually bordered with a fringe 
formed by cutting the skin into little strips, and on the inside the 
totem signs of the owners are marked in red paint. 

From one of tlu^ Diomede islands I obtained the garment illustrated 
in i»]ate xvi, a frock without a hood, made from the skin of a guillemot. 



I 




ut Hope (J). 



NELSON] FACE Ph'OTKCTOItS FROCKS 35 

Aroniid the back of the iiei'k is a border of black-beiir slvin with tlic 
loiii;' hair erect. Tlie lower border of the jjariiient is edi;'ed with a nar- 
row strip oi' wliite -reindeer skin, siiccee(h'd by a border of red-bear skin 
with tnfis of wlute bear inr sewed on all aronnd at shoit intervals. 

Tiie ix'ople on the ishuKls of liering strait and the adjaeeiit shores 
use a l<in(l of face i)roteet()r made of a riii^' of wliite bear skin, which is 
drawn on oxer liie head and fitted round the face. Thes(>, are held in 
l)lace by a narrow band of the same material extending over the top of 
the head; another strip from each side j'oiiis the other at the back. 

During siiinini'r the men usually wear a light frock made from the 
skins of the marimit, miidv, muskrat, fawus of reindeer, or the summer 
reindeer with its light coat of hair. In winter two of theses garments 
are fiequently worn, and those of the winter deerskin with its heavier 
coat of hair aie used in severe weather. 

A man's frock from ("ape Vancouver (jilate xvii) is made of reindeer- 
fawn skin and has a hood which forms a part of the garment instead of 
being woru sei)arately as is done fai'tiier inland. ]''i-om the shoulders 
hanging down both in front and behind depend broad stiiiis of reindeer 
skin with the fur cut short and having attached to their tips strings of 
white, red, and blue beads from live to six inches in length with narrow 
.stri]>s of wolverine tiir. From the middle of the hood behind hangs a 
strip of reindeer skin, tipped with wolverine fur. Little tassels of red- 
bear skin are attached to strips of wliite-deer skin, set in, gore-like, 
over tlie tops of shoulders. Two siiar]i-])ointed gores of white deer 
skin are set in above the waist. 

The hood has an inner border of aretic-liare skin followed by a strip 
of wolf skin. Tlie lower end of the sleeves is bordered by a band of 
whitedeer skin, edged by a narrow border of mink fur, tlu' hiwer edge 
of the garniciit being bordered in the same manner. This is one of 
the most ornamental garments of the kind seen in that district. 

The frocks worn by the women of this region are made similar to 
thoscMif the men except that they are cut u]i a little farther on the sides 
so as to make a more conspicuously jtendent Hap before and behind. 

From the Yukon mouth northward the women's frocks are much 
more handsomely made, tlii^ mottled white skin of tiie tame reindeer, 
obtained from the Siberian ])eoi)le, affording a good material for the 
l)roduc,tioii of ornamental i)atterns. Soiiu^ of these garments arc very 
richly ornamented: they are de(!i)ly cut n\> along each side, so that 
belore and beiiind the skirt hangs in a. long, broad, round (lap. The 
hoods are bordered by wolverine and woll' skin, :uul the ends of the 
sleeves and the lower edge of the garment are triinmed with wolf or 
wolverine skin, usually the latter. A typical garment of this kind 
(number 04272), from (^ape Prince of Wales, has the hood made of a 
central oval piece extending up from the back of the garment as a 
narrow strij) which broadens above. The hood is bordered on eacli 
side by short-hair whitereindeer skin which extends to the shoulders 
and then divides and forms a long, narrow gore down the front and 



36 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.iS 

back of the oarment. Between the white ski., o.i the sides and tlie 
brown deerskin forn.i.ig the back or central part of the hood, extends 
a series of five narrow strips of white deerskin with tl.e hair shaved 
close and having; welted into the seams narrow strips of black parch- 
ment like skin. Two of these welted seams bordering the central one 
have little tnfts of red wool set along at i..tervals of abont ce-fourth 
of an inch Across the shoulders from front to l)ack extend a similar 
series of strips of white deerskin with black welted seams, and the 
lower border of the garment is ornamented with a broader band ot the 
same handsome pattern. From tl.e top and back of the shoulders, as 
well as on the middle of the back, are attached tassellike strips of 
wolverine skin eight to ten inches in length. 

The frocks of the women of the lower Kuskokvvim have the sides cut 
up to a lesser degree than those to the north, and are provided with a 
hood bordered with wolf, wolverine, or other skin with the fur on. bet 
across the body before and behind are bands of white-hair deerskin, 
having narrow welted strij.s of dark skin in the seams. The sleeves 
and lower edge of the garment are bordered with a band of white-hair 
reindeer skin fiinged with wolverine skin. In addition, the women s 
frocks of this district have strung along the patterns of white deer- 
skin in front and back little strings of beads an inch or two in length. 
The trousers worn by the women from the lower Kuskokwim to Tomt 
Barrow are made usually of skin taken from the legs of reindeer, and 
fomnioi.ly by sewing in alternating strips of diilerent colors to produce 
ornamental patterns. The specimen shown in plate xviii, from the 
head of Norton sound, is a woman's handsomely made frock, ihe 
body of the garment is of marmot skins, while skins from the crowns 
of the same animal are pieced together on the crown of the hood 
Tl.e skirts and ornamental pieces are of whitel.air reindeer skin, and 
the trimming is of wolf and wolverine fur. 

The exan.ple from Mission, illustrated in plate xix, is made ot salmon 
skins tanned and worke<l with a scraper until they have become pliable. 
Most of the seams are ornamented with bands of brownish ilyed fash- 
skin, on the surface of which are sewed narrow strips of white parch- 
ment-like skin from the throats of seals. On each shoulder are inserted 
two oore-like pieces of tish-skiu dyed brown a..d having ornamental 
strips of white sewed along them and following their outline. 

WATERPROOF GARMENTS 

In addition to the upper garments already described the Eskimo 
make waterproof frocks from the 'intestiues of seals. The intestines 
are dried and slit open, and the long, ribbou-like strips thus formed 
are then sewed together horizontally to form a frock similar in shape 
to those of fur worn by the men, as already described. About the 
sleeves a braided sinew cord is inclosed in a turneddown border to 
form a drawstring for fastening the gannent securely about the wrist, 
in order that the water may not enter. In addition the border ot the 



WATERPROOF GARMENTS-EAR-FLAPS 37 

At .s.u.h tin.es, when the ^yelt\Jr 1 ''""tersare at sea in kaiaks. 

dons his wate proo n ek ;. tJ TT' ''""^ "'" '■""^"'- ^''" ''■'"*^'- 



^: 



%;^* 




^:1 



'«-4*^«« 



Strong- and will fre- 
quently withstand the 
pressure of tlie water 
even when tlie wearer is 
entirely submerged be- 
neath the eonibing- sea. 
Among the breakers, 
however, theyarenotto 
be relied on, as the writ- 
er knows from exjieri- 
enee, the weight of the 
water striking heavily 
from above, tearing 
them and permitting 
tiie water to enter the 
boa t. 

The seams of these 
waterproofs are fre- 
quently ornamented by 
sewing in seals' bristle's 




r-ll-qw (jl. 



KAi; FLAPS 

.>...! Il„. 1 „|.„„. „l„.„. ,„»„■» |V...I,« „,,. „„„1„ „.ill,„„t 



38 THE ESKIMO AI50UT BERING STRAIT [et„.ann.18 

the hoo.1, ear-tiaps are conunonly used. These are made of oval Haps 
^ler^llin with the hair side inward aud havin, t.,e base txun.j^ 
and sewed to a narrow band of skin to go around the head. The llaps 
"e tl It^ied under the chin by mea.s of strings. The tanned outer 
:"f^:of these flaps has various ornamental patterns - whUe Inurs 
Lm reindeer sewed on with sinew thread, the designs produced being 
pZlM lines, either straight, curved, or in circles. Figure represents 
a pair of these ear flaps. 



GLOVES AND MITTENS 



From tl,e Yukon northward to Kotzebue soun.l and thence to I oii t 
Barrow, mittens and gloves are found in common use. ihe gloves a e 
milieu ually with places for each linger aud the thumb From the 
Ylou mouth to Point Barrow were obtained gloves having each .,t 
ie h g"-s made of a separate piece sewed upon the hand, he hun.b 
in both cases being sewed on in the same manner aud hav.ug an 

awkward, triangular shape. , p . ,i .i-;,, with 

A n-iir from Sledge island (number 4508.,) are made ot se d^k.n ^^th 
thlhSr reived and the wrists bordered with a fringe of white-bear tur. 
A^^ from Point Hope (plate xx, 1), of the i.ual l-"er,. <h^.d.e^ 
is if tanned reindeer skin with the hair side inward. ^1-' rusts .mc 
bordered with a fringe of little strips of tanned remdeei-sk n, djed 
^ddh brown, and o^ the back are numerous little pendent strings o 
re an .white and red-and-blue beads, with other beads strung on the 
r n'ebo ering the wrist. These gloves are Joined by a double string 
o imle copper cylinders, spaced by blue beads, reaching np to tl e 
c n ll UK,p of soft, tanned skin, for going completely -■ou-l the nec^ 
Zl Iioldiiig the gloves without danger of their being lost it su.Ulenly 

''^ate^ix, 3, shows a pair of deerskin gloves of the comm.ui pattern 
from Kotzebue sound. The skin is tanned with the hair left on ai 
t ^^ell in on the inside of the hand and all around on t^^^;!^-"^,^ - 
back of the hand and the thumb are covered with a piece ot white 
ha i^^dl ..Sn, on which hang four tassel-like strips of wolverine sk. . 
The wrists are bordered with a series of narrow bands ot reindeer skin, 
with tew ite hair clipped short, and between the strips a narrow 
b nit liebment-like skin is welted in. Midway in this series o 
sis a eam is bordered by a series of small, regular y spaced tufts 
:l-;'a worsted. A narrow band of wolverine fur completes this orna- 

"oSer'glo^es tVom Bering strait are made of skin tanned with the 
hah dt on and turned inward; others have the hair entirely removd. 
A ulia pattern of glove is common to the Diomede islands and the 
■Kite n hore of Siberil The flngers and the hand are ot one pie. 
^mfXee pieces of skin of a diflerent color set in gores aloi^. t e 
ba kand divided to extend down as a gore along the mside ot each 



NELSON] GLOVES AND MITTENS 89 

fiiiji'ei"- Plate \X, 7, illustrates an example of these chives froiii Kiiijj 
island. 

Another curious pair of gloves, troni >i'orton sound, is shown in 
plate XX, 5. These are made with separate divisions tor the tluunb and 
the forefinjiei'' the other fingers being i)rovid(id with a single coxcr. 
T^hey are made like other gloves used along the American coast in that 
they have the i)arts (lovering the lingers in seiiarate pieces sewed on 
the piece forming the hand. 

The gloves illustrated in plate xx. ti, were obtained on the Dioincde 
islands, Bering strait: they are made of tanned reindeer skin, with the 
Lair side inward. The front of the gh)\es is a dingy russet brown iu 
color and the skin on the back is hard-tanned and colored chestnut 
brown. The back of the liand and the wrist have ornamental jiatterns 
in red, white, and blackish stitching, made by sewing in white reindeer 
hairs and red woolen yarn with sinew thread. These are made in tiie 
style pecniliar to these islands and the coast of Siberia already des(ail led, 
the jiieces ot skin sewed into the gores being pale butt in c<doi\ 

The glove shown m ])late xx, 2, from Anderson river. I'.ritish 
America, is similar in style to the gloves from the head of Ndrtun 
sound. It is made of reindeer skin. The mittens used are of a com- 
mon pattern, with a triangular thumb. They arc made of the skin of 
seals, reindeer, dogs, wolves, white bear, cormorant, muire, and salmon, 
and are sometimes of woven grass. 

For use while at sea long mittens reaching to the elbow or above are 
made of well tanned sealskin and are jirovided at their u])per bor.ler 
with a cord for drawing them tightly against the arm. These mittens 
are waterproof and protect the hands of the hunter from water during 
cold weather. 

I'late XXI, (i, re|)resents a typical i)air of these mittens measuring 
'21 inches in length. They are well made, with a jpiece of tanned skin 
welted into the main seam. Near the upper border is a broad strii) 
of sealskin, and a strip of the same extends down each side of the seam, 
running theiu'c to the end of the thumb. Set about the lower border 
is a wide band of skin; near the u|)i)er edge and also along each side 
of the bauds running to the thumb are tutts of whit«! seal bristles with 
little tufts of young seal fur dyed a reddish brown. 

From Sledge island I obtained a similar ])air of mittens made from 
waterproof tanned sealskin, and which reach only a little above the 
wrist. One of these is shown in jilate xxi, .!. 

On lower Yukon and Kuskokwiin rivers mittens made of salmon skin 
are also used. Along all of the coast region the skin of the hair seal, 
tanned with the hair on, is used for this ])uri)ose. All three of the latter 
kinds are used mainly during wet weather in summer or at sea. 

Mittens of woven grass are also made on tli(^ lower Yukon and thence 
to the Kuskokwim. For winter use they make clumsily shajied niit 
tens from the skins of dogs, reindeer, wolves, an<l (roimoiants. 



40 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.anw. 18 

All along tbe coast where seals are hunted on the ice during the 
spring months, huge mittens of white bearskin or white dogskin are 
made to reach from the hand to a little above the elbows. These are 
worn by the hunters, while creeinng prone upon the ice, to serve as a 
shield, the left arm being carried bent across in front of the face and 
head as the hunter slowly cree])S along. The bushy white hair on the 
mitten, being similar in cdIch" to the surfai'C of the snow, serves as a blind 
to prevent the seal from observing the approach of the hunter. 

FOOTWEAR 



Among the Eskimo boots are the most common style of footwear; 
they are made with a hard-tanned sealskin sole and a top reaching Just 
below the knee. The tops are generally of sealskin tanned with the 
hair left on, or of reindeer-skin tanned in the same manner. The seal- 
skin boots of this class may have the hair side worn either inward or 
outward; ibr this purpose the skin of the Phoca 'vitiilina is most com- 
monly used. When topped with reindeer skin, the hair is worn usually 
outward. The feet and ankles of the latter variety of boots are made 
of reindeer skin in the brown, short-hair summer coat; the legs are 
made usually in some pattern formed by combining pieces of the white- 
hair skin from the belly of a reindeer with strips of brown-hair skin 
from the legs of that animal. For this jiurpose skin from the white- 
hair tame reindeer of Siberia is highly i)rized. The to])s of the boot- 
legs are surrounded usually by one or two bands of white-hair deerskin 
with the fur shaved close to present a velvety surface, the seams along 
these bonlers liaving narrow strips of black skin welted in with little 
tufts of red worsted strung along some of the seams. Between these 
bands of shaved skin and the lower portion of the legs (commonly is 
sewed a strip of wolverine skin, with long projecting hair, and gener- 
ally two or more little tassels of the same kind of skin hanging before 
and behind. The soles are of hard, oil-tanned sealskin bent up around 
the border and (aim|)ed about the heel and the toe by means of a 
smooth, pointed ivory crimper. The up])ers are frecjuently sewed 
directly to the sealskin soles, but sometimes a narrow intervening 
strip of tanned sealskin is sewed in around the border. A long, nar- 
row strip of rawhide has one end sewed to the sole on each side of 
the ankle to fasten the boot to the foot. These straps are raised and 
drawn across the rear just above the heel and then passed around in 
front of the ankle and back again, and may be tied either in front 
or on the sides. At the top the boots are fastened tightly over the 
trousers by means of a drawstring. This style of boot is. common from 
the lower Yukon to the Arctic coast northward of Kotzebue sound. 
The specimen from Kotzebue sound shown in ])late xxi, 12, is a typical 
examjile of this style of foot-wear, but the i)attern of ornamentation 
varies according to individual fancy. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XI 




WOMAN OF MECHICiME BAY 




WOM-N OF EAb^ CAPE 
SIBERIAN ESKIMO 



NELSON] 

41 



BOOTS 



On tlM. tundra soi.tli „f tl,e lower Yukon tins ..vnav,] stvlo nf u . • 
made in a somewhat ditfeient fisi.ion „,."'"'-.'•'' '"/^ ''^' «t •>""t is 



more 



pi.,*,. vvT o ci • ' leijion to the r 



1 front 
Th 



tl..- 1„ ,,. s„le t„r„e,l i„, ,„,t ,,„,, „ ,„ „„„ „„„,., ',,' 

The soles of the shoes worn in this district nre „c „i ■ • 
i" the san,e n.anner as air,.ady descri ^ h ^ \C: n^r'T "" 
-,,.t..theuus.i,t.nessoftheneed,;wome;n.:^t^^^^ 

Un the lower Kuskokwim and southward to Tikehil- Ide ,. . . 

mmmm 

iiissiiiii 

sk?i"li"tf.;:^7'";" "T ^^'""^^'J-'- I'-i-^^trait some of these dee. 

^^e ■ it'^A "; '■'■"""^•■■■-^'"« -th little s.,„are ta.! .f 

IMU sk.u. As usual, around the top are several bands of ^nte- 



42 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth ann. 18 

hair skin, between tbe upper two of wliicli is a strip of wolverine slciii 
witli long ])rojectiiig- hair. These strii)s of skin along- the njipcr border 
have welted into the seam between them a narrow strii> of hard, black- 
tanned skin, so as to produ<'e a black line along- each seam. These 
boots are fastened to the foot as in the first i)air described from the 
American mainland. The soles are crimped in the same manneras those 
from the adjacent coast, and both sewing- and crimping are well done, 
as is characteristic of all work of this kind performed by the women 
throng'hont the region. 

For summer wear the common style of boot is of tanned sealskin 
with tlie hair side outward or with the hair removed. The latter kind 
is made waterproof, and the oil-tanned uppers are either black or 
dyed a deep i-eddish brown by the use of alder bark. The seams 
between tlie soles and the uppers, as well as those along- the legs, are 
generally heavily welteil, and commonly have the tops surrouiuled by 
a band of white parchment-like tanned sealskin, turned in to hold a 
drawstring for fastening the boot to the leg. The straps for fastening' 
these boots are made usually of white-tanned sealskin attached to the 
seams between the soles and ui)pers on each side of the middle of 
the foot. They are then crossed over the top of the foot, and after 
passing through the ear or lap of sealskin which is sewed to the sole 
on each side of the ankle, they are again (crossed above the heel and 
carried forward around the front, then back again to be tied as already 
described. Plate xxi, 10, shows one of a tyincal pair of these boots 
from St Michael. 

The legs of these boots usually reach to just beh)w the knees, but 
some are made to extend to the hips for wearing while hunting or ftshiug, 
and many are made that reach Just above the ankle. These latter are 
more in the style of dress boots, being worn about the villages or while 
traveling in umiaks. Their upjiers are made commonly of white, parch- 
ment-like tanned sealskin, but sometimes from the stomacih of a large 
seal or walrus, which makes a beautiful white, ]nirchment-like leather. 
The uppers are variously ornamented by welted seams and sti'ips sewed 
in successively around the edge of the sole, as shown in i)late xxt, 4, 
from Golofniu bay. 

These short summer boots are made sometimes of tanned sealskin, 
with the hair left on and turued inward, so that the softened inner 
surface of the skin is exposed. They are surrounded at the upper 
border usually by a white, jiarchment-like band with a drawstring, and 
the portion of the ujjpers over the toes and sides of the foot in front 
have sewed upon them strips of russet and white-tanned skin with 
tine yellow and black checked patterns, produced by drawing narrow 
strijis of white tanned parchment through little slits cut in the material. 
Plate XXI, 11, represents a typical example of this class of ornamenta- 
tion. The women living on the islands of Bering strait are noted for 
doing- handsome work of this kind. 



NELSON] 



FOOT-WEAR — CLOTHING B.\( iS 



43 



III addition to tlie boots dcsciibwl, socks made ol' dceiskin or sealskin 
with tlie bail- not removed, and reaiddug- a Hltki above the anUk-s, com- 
nionly are worn in winter. For wear at all seasons soeks are made of 
woven grass, tbe patterns of weaving varying to a certain extent and 
sometimes dill'erent colored grasses being used to pi-oduce ornamental 
jiatterns, as sliown in the sole of the example from the lower Knsko- 
kwim, illustrated in plate xxi, 1'. 

I'late XXI, 1, shows a typical grass sock from Itazbiiisky, on the 
lower Yukon, and plate xxi, T), also represents a eominoii style of grass 
sock from that district. The bot- 
toms of boots of all kinds are 
usually stuffed with a grass pad 
made by taking wisps of long 
grass stalks and binding them 
over one another to form a long 
cusliion for the bottimi of the foot. 
This gives a solt footing and ab- 
sorbs the moisture that penetrates 
the sole, so that it recpiires a long 
time for water to reach the foot. 

At night the so(-ks ami the grass 
l)ads are removed and bung to dry 
either over the lamp in the house 
01- in a convenient place in the room, 
so as to be ready I'or use on the fol 
lowing morning. 



C 



r: 



>^^?> 




N 



7 



-Fish-skin rlmliinff hn;;^ {{r.)- 



CLOTHINCI BAGS 

Along the lower Yukon and 
thence to the Kuskokwim large 
nundjers of bags are made for vari- 
ous i)uri)oses frotn the skins of 
salmon. Sonu' are used for stor- 
ing clothes, and still smaller ones for \arious small (jbjects, such as 
trinkets and small odds and ends ctf different kinds. Others are made 
very large, frequently with a capacity of a bushel or two, and are used 
for the storage of dry fish, which is kept in them in the stor<'hoMses 
until needed. 

Figure 7 (2) illustrates a salmon-skin bag for storing clothing. This 
exam])le, from Tikchik lake, is ornamenled with bands of russet- 
colored fishskin and white, ])arclimentlike skin from tiie tiiroats of 
seals, and is neatly sewed with sinew thread. The upper border of the 
bag is hemmed, and a seiies of lawhide loop \ are sewed at interxals 
around the top, througii w liicli is run a cord of the same material lor 



44 THE KSKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.axx.18 

use as a draw.-Jtring hi closing the bag. The bottom is oval in ontline 
and has a piece of lishskin sewed into it, witb tbe seam inside. These 
bags are in common use from the lower Yukon to the lower Kuskokwim. 
Figure 7 (1) represents a handsomely ornamented bag from St ilichael, 
made from the skins of salmon trout. The bottom of the bag is fash- 
ioned from a piece of deerskin with the hair side inward. The sides 
are ornamented with stri])S of white, parchment like leather made from 
the gullets of large seals. These strips are edged with narrow bands 
of rnsset-color leather, sewed with orna- 
mental seams of black and white. On 
each of four upright white bands which 
cross the side of the bag are sewed two 
circular pieces and a four pointed piece 
of the shiny black skin of the sea- wolf, 
the round i>ieces being edged with strips 
of russet skin. 

Figure 8 represents a sealskin clothing 
, , bag from Sledge island. It is made from 

v3^i^ the skin of the ribbon seal, taken oil' 
,f^***^ entire, including both dippers. The nose 
and the eyes are sewed up; the tmly open- 
ing is a cut extending crosswise between 
the fore dippers. Tiie edges of this cut 
are bound with a border of stout raw- 
hide, pierced with holes at intervals of 
about two inches, through which is run a 
strong rawhide cord for lacing the open- 
ing. This skin is tanned with the hair 
leit on. 

Bags of this character are made from 
skins of all of the smaller seals, and are 
useful for storing clothing from the fact 
that their shape makes them convenient 
for handling in umiaks or while on 
sledge journeys; at the same time their 
waterproof character serves to protect 
euiskin (,'c). the coutcnts from getting wet. Every 
lamily has from one to three of these 
bags, in which are kept their spare clothing, dressed skins, and valu- 
able furs. 

PEKSOXAI^ ADOR^fMENT 

LABRETS 

The wearing of labrets and the custom of tattooing are very general 
among tlie Eskimo of the Alaskan mainland and islands northward 
from Kuskokwim river. The style of the labrets, as with the extent 
and the iiattern of tattooing, varies with the locality. The custom of 




NELSON] LAHIv'KTS 45 

wealing labrcts is almost .ost among' tlie Eskimo of tlii' Asiatic, coast 
and of St Lawrence island. One man seen at tiie latter ])()int had a 
circle tattooed on each side of his chin to represent th(^sc ornaments 
(tigure liih). Some of the natives on Mechigine bay, just south of lOast 
cape, Siberia, had labret holes in their lips. The Kskiino of the Yukon 
and the Kuskokwini who live nearest the Tiiinc' liave also. generally 
abandoned the jiractice of wearing labrets, and the custom is becoming 
obsolete at other i)oints where there is constant intercourse; with the 
whites. 

During my residence at St Michael it was rather uncommon to 
see very young men among the Unalit with their li))s ]»ierced, and 
throughout that time 1 do not think a single boy among them had been 
thus delbrmed. Many of the old men also have ceased to wear labrets, 
although the incisions made for them in youth still remain. 

Among tlu; Eskimo of Bering strait and northward, where contact 
with the whites has been irregular, labiet wearing is still in full force. 
Increasing intercourse with civilized i)eoi)le makes it only a matter of 
time for this custom to become entirely obsolete. In the district south- 
ward from the Yukon mouth labrets were not universally worn among 
the men, as is the case in the country northward from Bering strait, 
and in everj- village some of the men and many women were found 
without them. The labrets of the women are of a curious sickle shape, 
but vary iu detail of arrangement, as shown by the accompanying illus- 
trations. Most of them are made with holes iu the lower border for 
the attachment of short strings of beads. The women who wore 
labrets had the under lip pierced with one or two holes Just over the 
middle of the chin. 

The use of these labrets, in the country visited by nie, si'cmed to be 
limited to the district lying between Yukon and Ivuskokwim rivers 
and Nuuivak island. Elsewhere I did not see labrets of any kind used 
by women. In the villages of Askinnk, Kushunuk, and othei' phices 
in that region the common form was a small, tlattcmed, sickle-shape 
piece of ivory, with a broad, tlatteued base for resting against the 
teeth, and tiie outer tif) brought down to a thin, Hat point. Of this 
style there are some variations, the most common of whi(;h is to have 
the two ordinary sickle-sha])e labrets Joined by a ci()ssi)iece of ivory 
cut from the same piece and uniting the two sickle-shape parts Just on 
the outer side of the lip. 

Another tbrm was to Join the inner ends of the labrets so that the 
portion resting against the teeth united the bases of the two sickle-shape 
points. In a labret (plate xxir, 13) from Konignuugumut the i)icce 
Joining the two sickle-shape points is llattened vertically. In another 
specimen (plate xxii. 3), from Kulwoguwigumut, this crosspiece, uniting 
the bases of the two projections, is flattened horizontally. In another 
(plate xxri, 4) from the lower Ivuskokwim, the two sickle-shai)e projec 
tions unite exteriorly to the lip so that a single orilice in the middle of 
the lower lip serves for the insertion of the stem. 



46 THE Ef^KIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (eth. anx. 18 

Tbe National Museum collection contains two speciniens of women's 
liibiets (one of which is sliown in plate xxir, 10) obtained on Nunivak 
island by Dr W. H. Dall, which differ from most of those of the main- 
laud in having the broadened bases for resting against the teeth made 
of separate pieces of ivory. These jjieces are small, flattened disks with 
holes in the center through which fits the inner eiul of the labret, after 
piercing the lips. These ditter also in external form, as shown by the 
figures. 

Another specimen (plate xxii, 1) obtained on Nunivak island has the 
common sickle-shape parts joined by an external bar, and theiiuier end 
is eularged by means of similar small perforated disks of ivory set on 
the rounded inner eiul of the labret. This specimen has attached to its 
outer border three short, double strings of beads, which hang down 
over the chiu. Plate xxii, 5, showing a specimen from Askinuk ; ligure 
7, one from Kulwoguwigumut, and figure G, one from Kushunuk, are 
the ordinary forms of women's Librets of sickle shape. 

The labrets worn by men in the district between the Yukon and the 
Kuskokwim are rather small and are commonly formed of a long, thin, 
curved ivory tlauge for resting against the teeth, with a hat-shape pro- 
jection for extension through the lip to the surface. The hat shape 
projection is provided with a central hole, through wiiich extends a 
wooden pin. This pin reaches beyond the outer border of the ivory 
and has fitted upon it some kind of bead, a round piece of stone, or, as 
in one specimen from Nunivak island, a truncated cone of lead. 

Another style of labret obtained from Nunivak island by Doctor Dall 
is shown in plate xxii, 10. It has the usual hat shape piece for pierc- 
ing the lip, with the wooden pin extending through and bearing on its 
outer end a white bead. Beyoiul this bead is attached a well-cut 
piece of serpentine, aj^parently representing the tail of a whale. This 
labret istwo inches long and the serpentine tip is an inch and five-eighths 
in width by an inch and a quarter long. 

From the lower Yukou was obtained a large, fiat labret (plate xxil, 
lO) having a rectangular outline with the sides slightly rounded and on 
the inner surface a pin five-eighths of an jnch in length which serves 
to pierce the lip. On this is fitted a long, oval i)iece of ivory an inch 
and a half long and five-eighths of an inch in width, made convex in 
front and concave behind, with a slot in the middle for fitting it on the 
pin. This labret is to insert in the lip and then the last described i)or- 
tion is fitted on it from the inside, thus holding it in place. The face 
of this labret measures an inch and seven-eighths in length by an inch 
in breadth and is made of fossil mammoth ivory. 

Northward from the Yukon the commonest style of labret is the hat- 
shape form shown in plate xxi, 21, of white quartz from Sledge island. 
This sjiecimen has the inner side smoothly excavated to tit upon the 
teeth and the outer border has a groove across its face. This labret 
is about half an inch across its exjiosed face and nine tenths of an 
inch along the portion resting against the teeth. 



NE1.S1>N1 I.AIUJETS 47 

Siiiiihii' labrers me shown in plate xxii. 10. liO, iVniii Slcdyc island, 
which are from an iucli to an incli and a (inarter alonjj- the beveled 
inner flanse, and live eighths of an in(!h across tlieir outer laces: these 
are inadiM)t' hard stone, niotlled black and white. I<"'i,mire !• shows a 
pair of lij-nite labrets worn by a Kiiifj island man. 

The .si)ecinien shown in ]ilate xxii. !•, was obtained on King island in 
Bering- strait. The base is the ordinary hat-shape labret of walrus ivory, 
having a slot cut in its outer face in which is lilted a well modeled 
piece of serpentine two inches in length an<l threel'ou ths of an inch in 
breadth, representing the tail of a right whale, and is fa^teiH'd in 
place by means of a wooden i)in which passes thi'ougli a hole drilled 
across the top of the labret and through a corresponding hole in the 





x-^?^ 






border of the piece of .serpentine in.serted in the slot. Its similarity 
ot shape to the .specimen (plate xxii, 1(») from Xunivak island is curious, 
and i)robab]y rei)resents an ancient and widely s])rea(l form that is now 
rare. A labret obtained on Xunivak island by Doctor Dall (plate xxii. 
11) is elaborate in form, having a hat shape ivory base with six short 
strings of beads Ibniung the outer i)art, which are held in position by 
flat ivory spacer.s. Another style (plate xxii. 1 2) IVom the same locality 
has an ivory base with a lead ti|) in the form of a truncated cone. 

In the neighborhood of Bering strait and Ilotham inlet, large. Hat 
labrets made of jadite were not uncommon. The beautiful si)ecimen 
(plate XXII, 15) obtained in Hotham inlet byMr Woolfemeasuresoncand 
seven-eight ii inches by an inch and a quarter on its outer surface. It 
has an oval button on the inside an inch and a half in width; the out- 



48 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. ann. 18 

line of the exposed surface is quadrangular, with the two sides rounded ; 
tlie surface is plain, beveled at each end and crossed lengthwise bj' a 
groove. Other styles of labrets worn along this coast, in addition to 
those already described, have a large inner flange beveled to fit the 
teeth, and a large, rounded, knob-like head to project through the lips; 
these are made from various materials, usually some kind of stone. 

The S})ecimen (i)late xxii, 14) from Kotzebue sound is the finest labret 
obtained. It is made of nephrite and measures three and a half inches 
long by an inch and a quarter wide on its outer surface. It is reduced 
in thickness uniformly, is very regular in outline, and has a well-made 
button-shape projection on the inner surface for fastening it in the lip. 

Some large labrets made of white quartz were obtained at Point 
Hope ; they are circular in outline on their outer faces, measure an inch 
and a half in diameter, and have the ordinary flanged projection inside 
for holding them in ])osition. Borne of these have the outer face plane 
and a few have half of a large blue bead fastened to tlie center of the 
outer surface. Others have the middle of the outer surface plane and 
theuce to the border slightly beveled. The labret shown iu plate xxii, 
IS, is a good example of the variety with the bead iu relief. Plate 
XXII, 17, shows one with plane surface. 

The collection also contains a specimen obtained by Mr Woolfe from 
Point Hope, which has a large blue bead fitted upon a wooden ])eg 
which pierces the hat-shape portion of the labret in a manner exactly 
similar to those from the island of Xuuivak and adjacent mainland. 

Among the males labrets are worn only after puberty, as the lips of 
the young boys are not pierced irntil that period. The hole is made 
just below each corner of the mouth and at first a long, thin, nail like 
plug of ivor.y, about an iuch in length, having a slight enlargement at 
the inner end, is thrust through the opening and left for some time. 
After the wearer becomes accustomed to this, a somewhat larger [)lug is 
made, like that shown in i^late xxii, 22, from Sledge island, and inserted 
in the hole for the purpose of enlarging it. This process is repeated, a 
larger plug being used on each occasion until the hole is of the size 
desired. In many cases it is so large that the teeth are visible through 
the opening when the labret is not iu place. 

To complete the process of enlarging the hole, a man uses a series of 
from sis to eight or teu of these little plugs, which he afterward 
pierces at their small eiuls and keeps strung upon a sinew cord, as 
shown in plate xxii, 25, from Koyukuk river and figure 23 of the same 
plate from Uiiaktolik. Tliese he may keep among his small ett'ects 
or they may be hung as pendent ornaments to the end of his wife's 
waist belt, or to the strap of ber needle case. When they are used in 
this way as ornaments, the men frequently etch little patterns upon 
tliem, as shown in some of the specimens dilate xxii, 2.3), which have 
about their center a double band of incised lines, making a zigzag pat- 
tern, with the raven totem mark toward the larger end. Various other 
figures are also drawn upon these ornaments as fancy may dictate. 



NELSON) 



LAIiRKTS 



49 



""•1. to nearly two i-u-hes i„ ,1 anSei ^^ '' 'T-'"'^' "•"" '''•"■ ^^ 

are n.ade varies g.-eat.y, an'^^ I, I ^r::;;^ ''■"'" ^^:"'^" ^"-« 
qnartz, slates-lass, lignite and woo. ! n " *''• ■^^^■''"'^^'> Jadite, 
n>otl. ivory. The be^uls, 1^ t^Z i;" f T "="'•" "'*' '"'^^" •"""^- 
beveled.anoular.kuobliki^ , of V- i: ' i". ""^' ''" ™""'^' "^''^''^y 
of men taken at Poi. To;, ,^a Kot-H "" '"'""• '^^''^ l'"<'t"..'-a,.hs 
Of these oUiects when in Z:':^:^;. ^'ll^r.^^ '''"""^'^"^^ 




locality (plate XX I ;^,)h;,,;T "'^'r"- ^"«^"«^'- *■-- ^he san.e 
l>ead on a wooden .i„ ns'ne i . ''*; '"' ^^ '""'^' '''''' ''^ '=^'«« ^^l- 
the labret. '" "^ '"^''^ """'« '" ^''^ '-asal portion of 

In wearing large stone labrets, the lin is drm... , i , , 

wo.o-ht, so that the lower teerh -.n, . <l'asjje<l down by their 

--.;.^.^:*S:r^;jrr^,:;r«:ri;»;:r!:.,,,-;- 



50 



THE ESKIJIO AROUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. AXN. 18 



the labrets were iuvaiiablv removed in order to ])revent the lip from 
free/ino-, as must have occurred had they reu.ained in place. The 
labrets were removed and carried in a small bag until we approached 
a village at night, when they were taken out and replaced, that the 



FlG^ 11— Tatliiuing 





South' of Yukon mouth 
Kotzebuesouml). 



b. East cape, Siberia 



wearer might present a proper appearance before the people. They 
are also sometimes removed when eating and before retiring for the 
night. 

TATTOOING 

Tattooing is universally practiced among the women of the Bering 
strait region, but has attained its greatest development on the Siberian 
coast and St Lawrence island. On the tundra south of the Yukon only 
part of the women are tattooed, and I was informed that tlie practice 
is comparativelv recent among them. They claim to have adopted it 
from the women of Nunivak island, who had straight lines on their 
cheeks, and also from having seen tattooing on the faces of Tinue 
women The common pattern used in this district is a pair of lines 
across the chin from eacli corner of the mouth, as shown ui figure ll,a. 





ri.:;. 12-Tattooiug on a St Lawrence islau.l girl. 

Malemut women, as well as those from Noatak and Kowak rivers, 
cross the chin with series of lines of tattooing radiating trom the lower 
lip, as shown in figure 11, h c; they also frequently have straight lines 
across the back of the wrist and forearm. On St Lawrence island and 




MAN'S BIRDSKIN FROCK Ab.ju r one-oLven 



TATTOOING 



[)l 



the adjaceut Siberian coast women have the sich's of tlieir faces (lij;iire 
12) and their aims and breasts covered witli finely desi;;ned ])atterns of 
circles and scroll work, ijometinies crossed by strai<;lit lines. 

At East cajje, the women ordinarily have six or eight i)airs of lines 
crossing their <'liiiis. and on each side of their faces patterns of circ-les 




and si)iral lines; al.so, two or three vertical. ])arallel lines crossing ihcir 
temples and extending to the chin. The ])attcrns on the checks 
nsually cover a space about four incdies in width extending from the ear 
toward the nose and from the eye to the lower jaw. 

On the inside of the foiearm two long parallel lines nsnaliy i;\tend 
from the elbow to tlie bor- 
der of the i)alm. These 
are (grossed Just below the 
elbow by two short lines, 
and the wrist is cros.sed by 
four lines which sometimes 

completely encircle that part of the arm (ligure li). On the body the 
tattooing covers the breast and sometimes tiie shoulders and npi)cr 
arms. 

The pattern shown in ligure I- was seen on the face of a little gii'l of 
St Lawrence island. Figure I'!, showing the tattoiijng On the face of a 




52 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



woman of this island, is from a sketch made and kindly i)resented to 
me by Mr Henry W. Elliot. 

At Mechigme bay, Siberia, a man was seen who had a double cii'cle 
connected by radiating lines on each cheek (figure 15, a). At Plover 
bay a boy had the raven totem over each eye, as shown in the illustra- 
tions of totem markings. On St Lawrence island a man had circles, 
representing labrets, near the lower corners of his moutli, and two 
short, pai'allel lines on each temple (figure l.~>, /'). 

BKADS A>;D EA];RIA'G« 

The practice of piercing the septum of little girls is still common 
among the Eskimo of the Alaskan mainland. While the children are 
small they wear one or more beads about the size of buckshot pendent 
from this hole so that they rest ui)on the upper li]). When the girl 
reaches maturity, the nose beads are not worn, and I never observed 
any use made by women of the hole in the septum except for carrying 





Fui. i:>-Cinular forms iil' tattcoini; (c, 



small objects like needles, which are frequently thrust through the 
opening and iield in place by the pressure of the wings of the nose on 
either side. 

On the Asiatic coast large boys and young men were frequently seen 
wearing two or three beads strung on their hair so as to hang down 
over their foreheads. The hair and the clothing of little girls and young 
women of the district south of the lower Yukon are highly ornamented 
with beads. These are hung in parallel strings, held in position as flat 
bands by means of small. Hat, ivory rods, or by strips of heavy skin 
pierced with holes at short intervals, through which pass the cords on 
which the beads are strung. Loops of these bands sometimes hafig 
from the earrings over the shoulders to the breast; others are attached 
to the braids of hair above the ears. To these loops is frequently 
attached a heavy copi)er ring. 

The practice among women of i>iercing the lobe or outer edge of the 
ear is common in all the territory occupied by the Eskimo visited by 
me. In some instances only the lobe is pierced, and in others holes 



^liii^oNl HEADS AND EARRINGS 5.'} 

arc made aloiifi' the outor bonier above the lobe. It is also coiiiinoii 
for men to have their ears ])ierce(l, partiinihirly in the district between 
the Yukon and Kuskokwini, where they wear huj;e earrings, from which 
frequently hang- strings of beads, extending under the chin from ear 
to ear in a long loop. The. variety of earrings woiii by tiie women in 
the vicinity of the Yukon and the Kuskokwini is very great, as shown 
by the series illustrated in plates xxiv and xxv: tliey arc ma<le of 
ivory, with occasional settings of beads or other objects. Elsewhere 
along the coast very much less variety in the ornamentation of these 
objects was observed. 

It is interesting to note that the greatest richness of ornamentation 
and variety in form of earrings is found among the people oi" the district 
south of the lower Yukon, which coincides with the elaborate style of 
their carvings on masks and other objects. 

Earrings worn by men of the tundra between the Yukon moiitli and 
the lower Kuskokwini are made of ivory and are very large. Tiiey are 
usually rectangular and measure from an inch and a <iuarter to two 
inches in length by three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a (juarter 
in width. FreqiU'utly there are four plane sides, but some of them 
have the lower end rounded, while others have this i)ortion beveled 
from each side to the center. They conunonly taper slightly from 
above downward. The front is excavated, leaving a narrow rim of 
ivory around the bordei', the sides of the excavation being parallel 
with the outline of the tablet-like piece forming the ornament. Fre- 
quently this excavated space is crossed midway by a luirrow ridge of 
ivory, which subdivides the central o])ening into upper and lower divi- 
sions ot equal size. This sunken area is then filled with some kind of 
cennuit, probal)ly made from spruce gum, in which are set various 
shining objects. 

The following descriptions cover some of the most intiu-esting forms 
of men's and women's earrings contained in the collection. The speci- 
men from Kaialigamut shown in plate xxv. 12, measures an inch and a 
quarter in length by tlireeijuarters of an inch in width and has its 
outer face divuled by an ivory ridge. The excavated s])aces are filled 
with a black cement, and set in each subdivision are three small, square 
pieces of lead, making six on each earring. The lower end is beveled 
to a point, and like all of these large earrings has a boss on the pos- 
terior surface near the lower border, which is pierced with a hole for 
fastening the ends of little pendants of beads. In addition, this speci- 
men has a longer string of beads jiassing beneath the (;hin to the 
op))Osite side. The hook for attaching these ornaments to the ear is 
cut from the same jiiece of ivory and extends bac'k and downward 
neaily to the lower point of the carving. 

Another exam])le from Kaialigamut (i)late xxv, 10) is similar in shajie 
to the one last descrii)e<l, with the lower end beveled to a point. It is 
two inches in length bv an inch and one eighth wide, and has set iu 



54 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth ann. 18 

the cemented outer f.ice several fragments of bottle glass. Ou tbe 
back is the usual long, stout book, and a small pierced knob or boss 
is provided near tbe lower point for tbe attacbmeiit of strings of beads. 

Tbe earring from Nuuivak island shown in i)late xxv, 13, is an inch 
and five-eighths long by an inch wide, with tlie lower end of bow shape. 
The excavated front surface is not subdivided by an ivory ridge, but 
has an insertion of some white substance crossed by regular black lines 
forming a diamond-shape pattern over which is neatly fitted a piece of 
window glass. 

Another specimen (plate xxv, 11), from I5ig lake, is of quadrilateral 
outline aiul has an iyory septum across the center forming two sub- 
divisions filled with cement, in which are set four rounded fragments 
of brass, one at each corner, with a round bead of iron iu the center. 
A smaller specimen than this, from the same locality, has four white 
beads set in the cement at each corner of the subdivisions, with frag- 
ments of glass in the center. Another earring, from Konigiiniigumut, 
has small fragments of mica imbedded in the cement. 

Tlie greatest variety of carving, however, is shown in the earrings 
worn by women. These are sometimes plane-face, quadrate, or oval 
pieces of ivory with a stout hook in the back; but, as a rule, the fronts 
are variously carved and ornamented. 

A common style of ornamentation consists of a series of concentric 
rings with a round pit or dot iu the center. Their fa(!es are frequently 
crossed by tine, etched, ray like lines. Another form is that of the 
circles and ray like lines shown in plate xxiv, 18, from Askinuk. 
All these rings have a stout book for attaching them to the ear, and 
a pierced boss near the lower border, ou the posterior side, for the attacli- 
ment of a string of beads. 

From Cape Vancouver was obtained the specimen shown iu plate 
XXIV, 5, which exhibits another form, consisting of a circle five-eighths 
of an inch in diameter, with a round hole in the center and a knob on 
each corner, and a long, narrow bar at its lower edge, all carved from 
a single piece of ivory. The front is surrounded by a series of seven 
neatly etched concentric circles. 

From the same locality is a similar earring (i)late xxiv, 1), having 
the circles spaced iu pairs, between the outer and the next to the outer 
set of which are. a series of round, sunken dots. 

The esami)le illustrated in plate xxiv, 2, from Nunivak island, is an 
inch and an eighth long by three- fourths of an inch wide. The upper 
portion is circular, with concentric rings, and the central hole is filled 
with a little ivory plug; the borders have on each corner a little spur, 
also of ivory, and below, extending downward, two oblong ivory pro- 
jections with rounded ends wliich are pierced by a small, round hole. 
The front surfaces of these are convex and are covered with a series of 
five concentric circles; etched lines extend from the outer circle down 
on the front of the lower i)rqjections, and a little circle surrounds each 
of the holes near the lower end. 



NELsoNi HEADS AND KAHKIXGS 55 

Tlie .speciiiieii fioiii ('Inilitinut lifiiiiiHl in pliite, wiv, (!, is siiiiill and 
rounded; it is a little ovtT half an inch in dianietcr, and has a rounded 
knob at eaeh eonier. Tlic center has a black spot and two concentric 
rings with si)aeed dots scattered around these and a dot in the middle 
of each corner ijrojcction. 

Another small set (|)late xxiv, S) from Chalitmnt measures half an 
inch ill diainetcr and is rudely oval in shape, with live small circles and 
dots arranged in the form of a cios;5 on a slightly convex face. 

A single earring obtained from St Jlichael (number lL'!)2(i.j) exhibits 
two circles, Joined one below the other, and each having tlm front cov- 
ered with concentric rings with a piece of lead set in the center. There 
is a hole at the lower end for the attachment of a string of beads. 

A pair from Xulukhtulogumut (plate xxiv, .'!) measure threc(iuarters 
of an inch in width. They are of the usual rounded pattern with pro- 
jecting corners, and with the center excavated and set with half of a 
blue bead, which is surrounded by two (tonceutric circles, the outer one 
having spur like etched lines drawn from it to the corner projections. 

Another example (plate xxiv, 4) from Kaialigamut, is three-(|Uarters 
of an inch in diameter, with rounded outline and convex face, in wluch 
is set half of a large, amber-colored glass bead. 

Ill addition to the styles already described, the country between the 
lower Yukon and the Knskokwim affords a considerable variety of these 
ornaments, upon which are carved the features of men, animals, and 
tun<ih(it. These are usually oval in outline, measuring from half au 
inch to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, but some are oblong in 
shape. A i)air from Chalitinut (plate xxiv, l.T) are square, with the 
features raised in relief in the center. 

A pair from Kusliutuk (jdate xxiv, 13) are each tiireei|uarters otau 
inch 111 length and in shape rei)resent a small seal. 
' The ornainentation of the specimen from (Jape N'ancouver illustrated 
in plate xxiv, 1(1, represents the features of a tunghdl;, and on another 
from the same locality (plate xxiv, 14) is shown the face of a short- 
ear owl. 

iSTorthward from St Michael to Bering strait the earrings used are 
more oblong in shape, l)eing longer and narrower in proportion; they 
are also less handsomely ornamented, and the entire workmanshii) is 
more crude. These measure from half an inch to an inch and a half 
in length and from an eighth to half an inch in diameter. 

An oblong, convex face pair (plate xxiv, lii), from Sledge island, 
measure a little over an inch and \\ quarter in length and three eighths 
of an inch in breadrh, and have half of a large Idue bead set in the 
front of each. Most of the earrings from this island ha\ e the faces 
<'rossed by deeply incised lines, although there were obtained one or 
two pairs which are perfectly plain. 

The specimen from Cape Vancouver shown in jjlate xxiv, 7, is a disk 
with a series of concentric circles on its face: another plate xxi\, II) 



56 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ethann. is 

from the same locality represents a grotesque liumaii face with tufts 
tied on each side to represent a woman's braided hair, wliile another 
(plate XXIV, 17), obtained also at the same place, represents the features 
of a seal. 

The only metal earrings obtained were collected ou the lower Yukon. 
They are made of copper, of the usual round style worn by women, with 
concentric circles on tlie face and projecting knobs at the corners. 

A pair of earrings (plate xxiv, 9), obtained at St Michael by Mr L. M. 
Turner, show smooth, disk-like faces three-eighths of an inch iu diam- 
eter, back of which project for about a quarter of au inch rounded 
ivory i)ins extending downward three-quarters of an inch to roughly 
truncated ti|)S pierced for the reception of the ends of a string of beads. 
These are the only earrings of this description that were seen. 

A pair from Oape Vancouver (plate xxiv, 12) are long, narrow, and 
oval in shaiie. They are au inch long, by three-eighths of au inch wide, 
and taper down to a narrow, flattened point pierced as usual for attach- 
ing a string- of beads. Extending lengthwise along the median line of 
the faces is a ridge from which the surface is beveled away ou both 
sides. On this doubly beveled surface is represented, by means of 
incised lines and dots, a grotesipie human face with labret holes below 
the corners of the mouth. 

Another pair, from Nulukhtulogumnt (plate xxiv, 10), are broadly 
oval in outline with a grotesque human face on the front; they measure 
seven-eighths of an inch long by nearly three-quarters of an inch wide. 

Plate XXV, 'J, shows a pair from Ohalitmut, three (juarters of au inch 
long by half an inch wide, having an oval outline and a slightly con- 
vex face. An incised line extends vertically through the center, with 
two pairs of beveled lines extending thence diagonally downward to 
the border ou each side. In the three spaces thus made along each 
side of the surface are three small circles and dots. From the lower 
ends of these rings hang two pendants of beads two and one-half inches 
in length, and a string of beads twelve inches iu length connects them 
below the chin. 

A ijair of rounded earrings from Sfugunugumut (plate xxv, 7) are 
about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter and have knob-like projec- 
tions ou four corners, each of the latter having an incised dot in the 
center. The faces are marked by two concentric circles, with a hole in 
the center, which is plugged with wood. A hole in the lower edge of 
these rings serves to attach the ui)per edge of a baud over four inches 
in length, made of seven strings of Tjcads, which are spaced near the 
upi>er end by a flattened ivory rod an inch and a half long, pierced 
■with a hole for each string. Near the lower end they are held in place 
by a similar strij) made from a thick piece of sealskin. 

On the islands as well as ou both shores of Bering strait, the women 
frequently wear pendent from their earrings, in place of beads, strings 
of the little orange-color horny sheaths from the angle of the bill of 



3UREAU UF AMERICAN ETHN 




PRONT OF MAN'S FISHSKIN FROCK one-suth 



NKi'UNl EAU-PENDANTS HAIR ORNAMKxNlS 57 

the crested aiiklot. in a doiihle low four or live inches in length and 
terniinatinji' in one or more heails. 

IIAIl! OKNAMENTS AND C0:MH8 

Tlie toiisnre is universally i)raetieed by the l^skiino wht^rever I 
traveled among them, whether on the American or on the Siberian 
coast, witli the jmssible exception of some of them in the upper Kusko- 




kwim region. The general style is to shave the toj) of the head, leaving 
a narrow fringe of hair about the border, which usually is kept trimmi'd 
evenly two or three inches in length around the head. 

The women dress their hair by ])arting it along the median line and 
arranging it in a })endent braid or club-shape mass l)ehin<l the ear. as 
shown in the accom])anying illustration (plate xxvii ol some women at 
Cape Smith. Sometimes the ends of the braids are united at the back 
of the head, or they may be arranged with strijis of fur or strings of 



5S THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. anx. 18 

beads into cliih-shape rolls hanging' down to tbe shoulders or even over 
the breast. Very often the strips of fur worn are those of the animal 
representing the family totem, and when wrapped about the hair in this 
manner they indieate the gens to which the woman belongs. 

South of the Yukon mouth the women are especially fond of orna- 
menting the pendent rolls or braids of hair by hanging bauds and 
strings of beads upon them with ivory ornaments attached, some of 
which are figured. They usually represent the faces of animals or of 
grotesque semihuman creatures. The ornament from Big lake illus- 
trated in plate xxv, 1, is of ivory and represents the face of a wolf. 
Another (plate xxv, 2), from Konigunuguinut, represents a grotesque, 
semihumau face. On one irom the lower Kuskokwim (plate xxv, 3) 
there is a representation of a humau countenance, while one from 
Agiukchuguraut (plate xxv, 4) shows also a grotescjue face. Another 
specimen from Big lake (plate xxv, (i) is ornamented with a conven- 
tional j)attern. 

Combs used by the I'jskimo for tlie hair are nuide by cutting slots in 
the straight edge of flat or slightly curved [)ieces of deerhorn, walrus 
ivory, or boiie. 

A rather elaborately made deerhorn comb (figure Hi, 1) is from the 
lower Yukon. It has a series of teeth along one edge; the handle has a 
bear's head in relief on each side, and a ring of the material is left on 
the back to strengthen the comb and to alibrd a better grip for the 
hand. Tlie upper side of the handle is crossed by parallel grooves 
and a zigzag ])atteru formed by a series of circles pierced with central 
holes. 

A specimen from Sledge island (tigure 1*J, 5) is a flat tablet of deer- 
horn with a series of teeth in one end and two projecting animal heads 
carved ou the upper end of the handle. Another, from St Michael 
(tigure 10,4), is of deerhorn, with the handle ornamented by lines and 
dots and terminating in a ring. In flgure I'i, 6, is shown a comb, from 
the Diomede islands, made from a hollow bone, which has a series of 
teeth of different sizes surrounding each end. 

Figure 10,2, shows an example from Nunivak island made from a piece 
of walrus ivoiy, and has one end provided with large teeth and the 
other with smaller ones. Another, from St Lawrence island (flgure 
10, o), is cut from a paddle-shape piece of bone. It has large rounded 
teeth and a slender liandle. pierced near its upper end. 

BRACELETS 

Bracelets of iron, brass, or cop])er are worn by women ;ind girls 
throughout the region visited. The men also use bracelets ma<le of a 
sealskin cord on whicli is strung one or more large beads of ivory or 
other substan(!e. They are generally used while at sea for rolling under 
the end of the sleeves of the waterproof skin frock. In plate xxv, 5, 
is shown an example of these bracelets from Xunivak island. 




,v1EN'S GLOVE?, 



NELSON) ARTICLES OF USE AM) ADORNMENT 59 

liKLTS AND nVA/V BFI'l'o.NS 

Tlirouglioiit the ILskiiiio comitiy iVoiii the lower Iviisl^okw im \i> tlio 
Arctic coast, a favorite waist belt worn liy tlu^ woiiicii is niade from the 
incisors of reindeer. These are obtained by ciittiiij^- off tlie tip of the 
lower jaw, leaviiis' snflicient bone to retain the teeth in their nalnrai 
position. Tiiese rows of teetii are sewed along a. stra]) of rawhide, 
one overlapjiing- tlie next in scale-like succiession, so tliat they form a 
continiions series along' its entire length. 

Some of these belts ha\e a double row of such teeth, and as each set 
represent.s a reindeer, it is evident that a long i)eriod of hunting is 
necessary ere a snllicient imndjer cau be accnmulated. 

In addition to the belts made of reindeer incisors, they have others 
made by fastening along the surface of a stra]) of tanned sealskin a 
series of smooth biass buttons iu close succession, or they ornament 
the entire length of the outer surface of the belt with circles and lines 
of beads arranged according to the fancy of the wearer. 

Whcil worn, the belts are brought l()os(>ly around the waist and held 
in place by a toggle or button, which is attached to the l)elt by a short 
cord tied through a hole pierced in the button for the purpose. These 
cords are attached to the belt about a foot or fifteen inches from the 
ends, so that the latter hang down in front of the hips on each side. 

The belt buttons are passed through a cord loop on the opposite side 
of the belt and thus hold it in place. They are made of ivory, bone, or 
reindeer horn, and have very great variety of form. Some are merely 
rounded knobs, or are made from the tooth of a bear or walrus pierced 
in the middle, while others are in the form of hooks. Flat button- 
shape carvings, with S(pmred, circular, or oval outlines are common, 
but most numerous of all are those made in the forms of seals, walrus, 
birds, and men. 

A number of these objects have been illustrated (plate xxvii) in 
order to show their great variety and to demonstrate thc^ skill and 
ingenuity in carving which tlie.se people possess. 

The tollowing notes describe the character of those figured, which 
are nnide of ivory except where other substances are imlicated. 

The specimen from Capt; ^onie, illustrated iu plate xxvii, 1, is a 
good example of this style of fastener. A similar object, shown in 
figure 2 of the same i)late, is from (Jhalitmut: this is a fragment of 
deerhorn, an inch and three-quarters long and three-quarters of an 
inch in diameter, smoothly rounded, and pierced with a central hole. 
Another (figure 4), from Kotzebue sound, consists of a long, (piadran- 
gular i)iece of walrus ivoiy an iiu-h and a half long by half an inch in 
width, with a narrow, I'aised ear or projection on the middle of the 
inner surface, which is pierced lengthwise for the passage of a <'ord; 
the front is marked with incised lines. Figiir*- •') illustrates a specimen 
from (Jhalitmut, which is somewhat similar in slia])c to the last, 



60 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.axn. 18 

except that it is round and about half an incli in diameter. It has a 
flattened projection on one side, which is pierced to receive the cord. 

Another example from Cape ISTome (plate xxvii, 6) is a narrow, oblong 
piece of ivory, having the front strongly couvex and the back sliglitly 
concave, with a projection near the middle, through which passes a 
broad opening for the cord. Another, from Chalitmut (i)late xxvii, 
L'5), is a roughlj^ oval, i>lumniet-like iiiece of ivory, with a stem-like 
projection on one end which is pierced for the cord; the surface is 
crossed by incised lines extending around each face and by a similar 
line ai'ound its greatest diameter, between which and the stem are four 
sets of circles and dots. 

The specimen from Anogogmut, illustrated in plate xxvii, 10, is a 
neatly made carving of a seal an inch and three-eighths long, with a 
projecting ear-like piece on its lower surface, thiongh which a trian- 
gular hole admits a cord. Anotlier, from ^uuivak island (plate xxvii, 
15), is a double oval carving, with an angular itrojecting ear on the 
lower surface for the attachment of the cord. On the front the double 
oval surface meets at a narrow neck, each end having etched upon it a 
grotesque countenance, probably representing the facie of a seal. 

The fastener shown in plate xxvii, 12, from Sfugunugunuit, is an 
inch and a half long, made from walrus ivory in the shape of a white 
whale, and is pierced through the side. Figure 3 shows a carving 
from Agiukchugumut, two and a quarter inches in length, slightly 
resembling in outline the incisor of a bear; on the truncated end is a 
grotesque semihuman face, and etched upon the sides are lines, circles, 
and dots, including the representation of fore and hind limbs. It 
represents some being recognized in the mythology of the Eskimo. 

Plate XXVII, 7, represents a neatly made carving, an inch and three- 
quarters long, in the form of a walrus, the flippers of the animal being 
conventionally shown in relief. It is from the lower Kuskokwim. 

Plate XXVII, 11, shows a miniature carving, from Sledge island, repre- 
senting a white bear; it is an inch long and is pierced through the side 
for the cord. 

Plate XXVII, 8, illustrates a fastener, from Nunivak island, represent- 
ing a walrus. It measures two and a half inches in length and is 
pierced vertically for the cord. 

An unnumbered piece from Knshunuk is a small carving reiu-eseut- 
ing on its front a grotesque figure of a woman; it is pierced on the 
back for the jiassage of the cord. 

Plate XXVII, 10, represents a small carving, from Nunivak island, an 
inch and three-eighths long, almond-shai)e in outline, flat on the lower 
edge and concave on the upper; the latter surface has marked upon it 
the figure of a fish, with a broad, deeply incised, crescent-shape 
mouth; it is pierced vertically for the cord. 

Plate XXVII, 14, shows a fastener from Cape i*fome; it measures an 
inch and a half in length and represents the heads of two polar bears 




BOOTS, W.T.aPROOP M,TTENS, ANO STRAW SOCKS .Bou. .„,." 



BKLT^; AXI) B|-.I/r BUTTOXS 



(11 



with open moiitlis ;iiid Joined at the necks. A hole passes laterally 
through the bases of the necks for the curd; the heads are divided by 
a deep, broad iucision, separatin<^- them from each other at tlieir bases. 

Another fastener from (Jape Nome (figure 17) is a tine jiiece of eorn- 
])osite carving. Held in one position it rejjresents tlie head of a white 
bear; turned with the otln-r surface upward it represents a seal, the ears 
of the bear serving in that case for the foro-llippcrs of the latter animal, 
while a ridge along both sides of the posterior portion of the seal's 
body marks the position of its liind tlii)])ers and serves to outline the 
lower jaws of the bear. This object can also bo used as a cord haiulle. 

Plate XXVII, 13, from Point Hope, is an excellent representation of 
the skull of a walrus an inch and a half in length. Figure :-'! of the 
same plate represents a fastener from Askinuk, in the form of a seven- 
fingered human hand. 

Another style of button or l)elt fastener is made from a rounded, 
oval, or (]uadrangular flattened piece of ivory or bone, i)ierced through 
the center with a single hole for the accommodation t)f the belt cord. 

The following fasteners are also illustrated in i)late xxvii: 

Figure 19, from the lower Yukon, 
is a thin, square piece of ivory, 
pierced in tlie center by a hole for 
the cord; its border is surrouiuled 
by a series of etched lines, forming 
a wave pattern; extending toward 
the center from each corner are 
etched the tridentate marks repre- 
senting the raven totem. 

Figui'e 20 is from Oai)e Vancou- 
ver. It has a circular face, with four projecting knobs at the corners, 
and etched upon the front are seven concentric circles; the knobs at 
the corners are pierced and the holes are plugged with wood; two 
circular lines surround the holes. 

Figure 22, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a round, convex-face piece 
of ivory, with the surfece neatly carved in relief with a wave i)attern 
alternating with rings; a large ear-like projection on tlie back is 
pierced for the cord. 

Figure 18, from Anogogmut, is an inch and a quarter long, rounded 
above and square below, with a slightly oval front, on which, in low 
relief, is a grotesque human face. The usual ear like ring on the liack 
serves for attaching the cord. 

Figure 17, from Nunivak island, is an inch and tliree-eighths long 
and an inch and a quarter wide. It is excavated at the back, an<l on 
the front has a well-made represc^ntation of luuiuin features, with the 
mouth and the eyes pierced, atul with lines rei)resenting snow goggles 
across the eyes; on the back is a -strong ear for attaching the cord. 

Figure 2-1, from Cape Vancouver, represents the head ol a salmon; 




Fio, 17— Ivorv belt fastener. 



62 THE ESKIMO AHOUT BERING STRAIT 



it is bollow and has an ivory pin passing tlirougL its base, to wliich a 
cord may be attached. 

In addition to the buttonlilie objects described, other belt fasteners 
are made in the form of hooks. These vary from phiin hooks, as in 
phite XXYII, 30, to the elaborately carved forms shown in this plate. 

Figure 26, from Agiukchngumut, has its surface marked by incised 
lines inclosing the eye at the base of the hook, passing thence to a 
point, where they unite. A similar but larger specimen is more elab- 
orately ornamented on its surface. 

Figure 27, from Chalitmut, represents a tish, and has an incision 
along the entire length, following its outline. 

Figure 23, also from Chalitmut, is a S(|uare, flattened piece of ivory 
with a slit-like notch cut in on one side to a hole in the center, and 
with a beveled edge on one face. Both surfaces are marked by heavily 
incised lines. 

Figure 28, from the mouth of the Yukon, is a rudely made hook with 
the head of an animal carved upon the outer end, the other end being 
l)ierced by a hole for the cord; along the back of the animal, from 
between the ears, extends an incised line, from which other lines 
extend diagonally down the sides as though outlining segments. 

Figure 2'.i, from the northern end of Norton sound, is a curiously 
made hook in the shape of a human figure, represented as sitting on 
its legs with the body bent forward and the head supi)orted by the 
hands placed on either side of the face; the area inclosed between the 
neck and the arms serves for attaching the belt cord, and the legs 
extending forward and upward parallel to the body serve as a hook 
for insertion into the opposite loop. 

Figure 9, from Knshunuk, represents a rudely outlined, grotesque 
human figure. 

Figure 30, from Agiukchngumut, shows a jdain hook with an eye 
for the cord and two lines etched along the surface, surrounding the 
eye and following the outline. 

The men and boys wear belts of various kinds. Sometimes these 
may be simply a rawhide cord or strap of tanned skin ; more com- 
monly, however, they are made of the skin taken from the feet of a 
wolverine or wolf, the claws being left on. It is soft-tanued without 
removing the hair and the edges are sewed together to make a continu- 
ous baud; on the back is sewed the skin of the animal's head, the 
nose being attached to the belt and the tail fastened to the lower end. 
These belts are highly prized, and it is very seldom that a man or a 
boy, unless he be very poor, does not possess his wolverine or wolf-skin 
belt. It is supposed to give the wearer a certain strength and prowess 
similar to those ([ualitie-; in the animal from which the skin was taken. 

Belts representing the totem animal of the owner are also worn, and 
sometimes the inummifled bodies of the little weasel are attached to them 
in front, in the belief that some of the animal's prowess will be conveyed 




LABRETS 'NINE-SIXTEENTHS 



WKASEI, HEI/rS I.AMl': 



G3 



to tlie wt'iiier. These weasel belts were most tre(|ueiitly seen iiiiioiig 
people from tlie bead of Norton bay and Kaviak peiiinsnla, wliere 
they seemed to be partieularly ])rized. Tlie ])eoiile from that seetioii 
ofleied as much as two dollars" woitli of furs for the skin and the head 
of a weasel for this jiurpose. 

I I'KNSII.S AM) IMI'l>i:.Mi:XTS 



1^ 




Throiiffhoiit western Alaska, ineludins tiie islands of Berin<>- strait, 
and upon the coast ol' Siberia, open lami)s are used for burning seal oil ; 
tliej' are mad(! of clay, soaji- 
stone, or other easily worked 
stone, and present eonsidera 
ble variety of form. 

At ]'oint liarrow i saw a 
tine soapstone lamp ((i<;ure 
IS), 2 feet long and 10 inches 
broad, weighing about .':!() 

povinds. Tbe owner refused fk^ i8-i ;n.ii. /i imni huihw 

to sell it, but the accompany- 
ing sketcli made at the time shows the manner in which it is sub- 
divided by ridges of stone, with sunken intersi>aces: it is symmetrical 
in form and suboval in outline, with the convexity greatest on one side. 
At East cape, Siberia, 1 saw a stone lamp lying upon a grave, just 
back of the village, which is similar in outline to the Point Harrow 
lamp described, but it lacked the subdivisions 
across the interior; it is about 15 inches long and 
proi)ortionately broad. 

Tiie specimen illustrated in plate xxvili. .'i, was 
found on the eastern coast of Siberia: it is made of 
stone, is suboval in outline, deeply excavated at 
the back, and slopes upward to a broad ledge in 
front; this ledge is crossed by a ridge of stone cut 
an'i stand ( fiiii si/.). ' througli in the center for liolding the wick. 

On the Dioniede 'slamis similar lamps were found 
in use. but a child's toy, made from ivory in sha])e of a lamp, was 
obtained on one of these islands, whidi shows a different form i figure 
19). It is suboval in outline and deepest in the center, with a ridge 
extending along each side just above the bottom, and with a grooxc 
cut through the middle of each side for the wick. This lamp is i-epre- 
sented as standing;- npon a stool like frame, which is snpjKirted by four 
legs, with a crosspiece on each side and two ciosspieces on the ends to 
hold the legs in place. 

An exam])le (number (ilL'L'.'i) from llotham inlet is of stone. sid)tri- 
augular in outline, with the<'onvexity grejitest on one side, toward which 




64 THE ESKIMO ABOUr BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

tbe bottom slopes; the long-, iieaily straij-lit, umiotclied jdge forms 
the ledge on wliicli the wick rests. 

From St I>a\vi'eiice island a number of lamps were obtained, showing 
considerable variety of form. 

Plate xxviii, 7, represents a lamp made of clay, llj inches loug, 9i 
wide, and 2f deep; it is suboval in outline, with a tray-shape bottom; a 
high, thin ridge runs along each side, just above the bottom, which 
projects upward, and inclines a little outward; a deej) notch is cut 
through the middle of these ridges close to the level of the bottom for 
receiving the wick. The Ibiin of this lamp is precisely that indicated 
on the toy carving from the Diomede islands above described (figure 19). 

Plate XXVIII, S, illustrates a lamp from St Lawrence island, 14.] inches 
long by lli| wide and -'^ deep. It is like the last in general shape, but 
slopes gradually from the sides downward to within a short distance 
of the bottom, when it drops suddeidy to a depressed area about an 
inch deep, which occupies tlie entire bottom of the lamp; along each 
side of the bottom projects a ridge, whiidi slopes upward and a little 
toward the middle. These ridges are pierced by a round hole near 
each end, about on a line with the bottom of the himp, through wliicli 
the wicks were inserted. Both this lamp and the one last described 
undoubtedly stood upon framework su[)ports, and were used probably 
for cooking purposes. 

A tray-sliape clay lam]) (number GooO'.t) from St Lawrence island is 
15A inches long by lOjf wide; it has two projecting ridges on the inner 
sides, midway between the rim and the bottom, for supporting the 
•wick. This, like the other large lamps from this island already 
described, was undoubtedly used for cooking. 

Plate XXVIII, 4, shows a tray-shape lamp from St Lawrence island, 
which undoubtedly was used solely for illuminating i^urposes. It has 
the upper border flattened smoothly on three sides; along the front the 
slope extends gently backward toward the deei)est part. Extending 
lengthwise, nudway between the bottom and the front border or lip, is 
a thin projecting ridge; the front border of the lamp above this ledge 
shows signs of having been burnt; evidently the wicks had their bases 
supported against the raised ridge while their upper edges projected 
from the lip. 

Phite XXVIII, 5, represents the support for the last-described lamp. 
It is made of clay, and is in the form of a pot 5 inches high and 6^ wide. 
It has a flat bottom, with the sides rounded to the front, where a cres- 
ceutic depression is made in the border, with a slightly raised point on 
the rim at each side. The lamp was placed on the mouth of the vessel, 
the depressed portion of which is just beneath tlie point where the wick 
rests along the outer edge of the lip, so that any drippings of oil which 
might run down would be caught in the vessel below. 

The lamp from St Lawrence island siiowii in plate xxviii, 9, is some- 
wliat similar in shai)e to the preceding, but having the bottom flattened 



RURE-^U OF AMERICAN tTHN 




KOTZEBUE SOUND MALEMUT MEN AND WOMEN WITH LABRETS 



^EisoNl ■ LAMI'S Of) 

anil on the iiostt'iior side, ;i liaiuUe like pnijectioii wliieli extends out ward 
for two inclies from the general outline of the lamp. Alonj-- tlie opi>osite 
side the bottom slopes oradually fiom the border to the side next to 
the projection Just described, where its deepest point ivS found. Just 
below the border is a ridge for supporting- the wick, which rests along 
the upper edge of the lamp in front. Plate xxviii, 10, represents a 
wooden bowl like holder or support for this lamp. It is excsavated into 
a .smoothly oval, gourdsha])e de])ression, and has the bottom liat to 
insure its retaining an upright position. 

All of the lamps from 8t Lawrence island are made with nearly flat 
bottoms, with the exception of that shown in plate xxviii, 4, in which 
the base is rounded. 

Plate XXVIII, 12, from Norton bay, is a crescentic toy lamp made of 
stone, with a sharp edge extending almost straight across one side, the 
remainder of the border approaching a seniiinrcle. 

Figure 11 of the same plate is a clay lain]) from St Michael, very 
similar in shape to the preceding; it is the ordinary form used at that 
locality and in other villages of the TTualaklit. 

From St Michael there is a toy lamj) (number 4;{47(i) made ai)pareiit]y 
by utilizing a natural hollow in a small stone. There is also a small 
toy lamp of stone (number (UT.'j), from Cape Darby, of crescentic out- 
line, and sloping from the nearly straight border to the deepest ]>oint 
below the rim on the opposite side. 

Figure <i represents a stone lamp obtained by Mr L. M. Turner at 
St Michael; it is nearly pear-shape in outline, with a smoothly sunken 
dejuession. 

Figure 2, from Big lake, shows a round, saucer-shape toy lamp of 
clay, with the bottom rounded and the interior regularly depressed. A 
series of three parallel grooves are incised ai'ound the outer edge, near 
the border; inside the border are se\en incised parallel grooves, suc- 
ceeded by two others which encircle the center of the bottom and are 
connected with the series on the side by four spoke like rays, each of 
which is formed by a .series of four incised lines with an intermediate 
row of dots. 

Similar round, sancershape lami)s are in common use from the Kus- 
kokwim to the Yukon mouth iiiid are found also along the shore of 
Norton sound to St Michael. One of these lami)s from the lower 
Yukon bears Museum number 3S(»7Srt,. It has two grooves encircling 
the outside, near the border; inside are four heavy grooves, and a large 
cross is incised in the center of the bottom. 

DIP1'KI!«, LADLKS. AND .Sl'OONS 

In the neigliborhood of Nortcm .sound and the lower Yukon tiic most 

common form of dipi)er is made by cutting a long, thin strip of spruce, 

three to six incdies wide, and fashioning onc^ end into tlu^ form of a 

handle; the other end is thinned down to a long, wedge shape point, 

18 ETII 5 



66 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eteiasn. 18- 

and tbe wood is steamed aud bent iipou itself so tliat the thin edjje 
rests aj^ainst tbe strip jnst inside of tlie base of tbe bandle. It is then 
held in position by means of two pairs of sticks chiini>ed upon opposite 
sides and tied by a wrapping of cord or spruce rootlets. After tbe 
frame becomes dry tbe clamps are removed aud a series of holes are 
punched through tbe overlapping wood. The bottom of the cylinder 
formed by tbe sides has a groove extending around it, in which is fitted 
a circular or an oval piece of wood, with the edges chamfered. When 
this bottom is in place the stitching of rootlets is passed through the 
series of holes in the overlai)ping ends, holding them permanently in 
position. 

Plate XXIX, figures tJ and 7, illustrate dippers of this description 
from Norton sound and Sledge island, respectively. The latter is not 
colored; tbe former has on the outside of tbe bandle a baud extending 
around the ui)per and lower edges of the sides, aud a strip around the 
sides of tbe bottom painted red. The red borders on the sides are 
outlined on their inner edges by narrow black lines in a slight groove. 

Figure 8 of the same plate represents a dipper of slightly ditferent 
pattern from the lower Yukon. It is obovate in horizontal section, and 
near the beveled edge of the end of tbe strips of wood which form tbe 
sides of the dipper there is a slightly raised boss extending across it as 
a streugthener. Exactly oi)posite this is a similar thickening of the 
side, which strengthens it aud renders tbe curves around tbe ends 
uniform, in the same manner that a thickening in tbe center of a bow 
braces it and governs the curves. After being steamed tbe wood is 
bent until two notches cut m the upper edge come together at the 
points where one end of tbe strip should overlap t be other inside of 
the bandle. The ends are then held in place by means of four short, 
stout sticks, which are bound in pairs on tbe outer aud inner sides by 
means of tightly wrapped spruce roots, which form a strong clamp. 
In this manner tbe wood is held tirmly in place until it dries, after 
which tbe clamps are removed and a double series of holes are pierced 
lor sewing. A groove is cat on tbe inner side near tbe lower edge, 
into which the chamfered edges of the bottom are sprang. Spruce root- 
lets are then sewed along tbe holes pierced in tbe side, aud the dipper 
is ready for use. 

Plate XXIX, \2, from Ikognmt (Mission), represents a round, bowl- 
shape dipper cut from a single piece of wood, with a Hat handle project- 
ing on the inner side; its capacity is about a quart. 

Figure 10 of the same plate, from St Lawrence island, is a Hat- 
bottom, bowl-shape dipper, a little smaller than the preceding, wbii^h 
has a round bandle i)roiecting from one side with a quadrate opening 
cut throngh it. 

The dipper from Cajie Nome shown in ])late xxix, tl, is made from 
the horn of a Dall's sheep. It has a deep s[)oon-sbape bowl, with a 
long, slender bandle provided w ith an ivory pin, held in i)lace by two 
ivory i)egs set in a slot cut through its outer end and projecting down- 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XX 




Msix'Nl niPl'EUS, LADLKS, AND SPOOXS 07 

ward with a ii'cuivcd liook. Tliis is inteiKled to jurvoiit tin- liaiid Iroiii 
slii)])iiiji. nippers similar to tiiis were obtained from Kot/.i'huc sound. 

AnioMij the handsome dippers observed was one seen at Point Hope, 
nnide from fossil mammoth ivory. It was obhing in outline, with a 
deeply excavated interior and a handle projecting- at one end. 

Plate XXIX, .'J, from (_!ape Nome, shows an oval, spoon-shape ladle, 
with a rounded handle, jjierced by two oriliees, projecting from one side. 
A ladle similar to the preceding iu form of handle is common along 
the (;oast of Bering strait from (Jape Nome to the Uiomede islands. 
A specimen from Sledge island, shown in figure '2 of plate xxix, is 
similar as to the form of the bowl, but has a handle more ornately 
carved. 

The dipper from Chalitmut, shown in plate xxx, 24, has a handle 
smoothly rounded, with a long, slender, oval hole pierced through it. 
The inside of the bowl is surrounded by a checked pattern in black, 
with a curious figure representing some mythological being nuirked on 
the center in black paint. This i)aiut is very durable, since it shows 
no signs of detacement, although the utensil has been used in hot water 
and in greasy compounds. 

Plate xxx, 19, from the lower Kuskokwim, is somewhat similar in 
outline to the last. The handle is provifled with a very small hole, and 
the edge of the bowl is elevated like a rim above the point of insertion 
of the handle. This spoon has its inner border encircled by two black 
lines with crosslines, and in the center is painted, iu black, the form of 
a seal with a spear attached to its back, to which is fastened a line with 
a tioat at its outer end. Near the upi)er edge of the handle are black 
crossbars. 

Plate xxx, 20, from Cape Vancouver, shows a spoon somewhat similar 
in shai)e to the preceding, but with the handle ditfering in outline and 
the inside of the bowl bordered by a black line, with a conventional 
drawing of some mythological animal. 

Plate xxix, .5, from Chalitmut, has the outer end of the handh; trun- 
cated and a long, narrow, triangular slot cut through it; the inside of 
the bowl is ornamented with two drawings, in black, of the killer whale, 
and the exterior surface is painted red; the handle is crossed by red 
and black bars. 

l)ipi)er numbered 3S<>.'>0, is similar in outline to that just described. 
On the inside the ligureof a man, a (circle, and two skins, aiipareiitly of 
otters, are painted in black; the border of the bowl is surrounded on 
the inside by a black line. The handle and the lower bordei- are red 
and the former is crossed by a black band. 

Plate xxx. 21, from Sfuguuugumut, is similar in outline to the last 
mentioned. It has a .seal-like animal painted on the bottom, showing 
details of its internal anatomy, and inclosed by two long arms with the 
hands extended and the palms pierced similarly to the hands. Similar 
figures are seen on masks from this district. 

A ladle with a deep bowl, from Paimut, illustrated in plate x\\, 2."», 



fi8 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.anx 18 

has tbe handle narrowed near the base, then widened and narrowed 
again toward the top, ending in a rounded point; a trianguhxr slot is cut 
through the handle, and near the top is a circular hole; its upper sur- 
face is carved around the border, and a quadrangular area with incurved 
sides is sunken near the base and painted black; on the lower surface 
a groove extends in toward the handle on each side and surrounds the 
bottom. The form of a small tish is painted in black on the bottom of 
the bowl, which, near its border, is surrounded by two black rings 
connected by crossbars. 

Plate XXX, 23, from Chalitmut, has the handle made in two ]iarts, 
joined by a crossbar near the outer end ; the lower side of the bowl and 
part of the handle are painted red ; above this the handle is crossed by 
one red and two black bands. On the inside of the bowl are painted 
tigures of the curious hybrid animal kiuiwn in Eskimo mythology as the 
metamorphosis of the white whale into a combination of wolf and whale. 

Plate XXX, 22, from Sfugunugumut, is similar in form to others 
described. It has the inside of the sjioon outlined by a black line, and 
in the center a pattern like that seen on women's earrings in this dis- 
trict, being a circle and a dot with four projecting points which form 
corners on the outside of the circle. 

Figure !> of the same i)late, from Konigunngumut, is a round handle 
spoon, the handle being surrounded at equal intervals with three beads 
cut in the wood ; it is not painted. 

Figure 10, from Chalitmut, is a plain-handle spoon having the form 
of a seal painted in black on the inner surface. 

Figure IG, from the Kuskokwim, is a plain-handle spoon having a 
double-head bird painted in black on the inside; the inner border of 
the bowl is surrounded by two black lines. 

Plate XXIX, i, shows a spoon from Sabotnisky with a plain handle 
narrowed near the bowl, which is pear shape in outline and has the 
tigure of an otter painted within it. The border is sun-ounded near the 
upper edge by two black lines; the edge of the rim is red, as are also 
the borders of the handle on each side, which are connected by a cross- 
bar of red in the middle; the two quadrangular areas of plain wood 
thus left on the upper surface of the handle are outlined in black. 

Plate XXX, 17, also from Sabotnisky, is a long, oval spoon, with the 
bowl continued to form the handle; it has both the upper and the 
lower surface ornamented with figures in black. 

Plate XXIX, 1, represents a rudely shaped ladle from Big lake. It has 
a long handle, flattened above and oval below, and is jjainted red except 
on the inner surface of the bowl. On this uni)ainted ]iortion is out- 
lined a tigui-e of the head and fore part of the body of a mythological 
animal, combining features of the wolf and the killer whale. The tin 
of the whale is shown rising from the shoulders of the animal, while 
the fore feet And the head of the wolf are also represented. 

Plate xxix,_ll, from St Lawrence island, is a broad, flattened scoop, 
with a short, projecting handle on tbe inner end and nearly square 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




EARRINGS AND OTHER ORNAMENTS ^seven-sixteenths) 



"Ei-s"''] DIPI'EKS, LADLES, AND SPOONS (I!) 

across its outer border. This utensil is used for skimiiiiTi<;- oil or for 
taking the scum from boiling- meat. 

Plate XXX, 1"), represents a small, rudely fashioned wooden spoon 
from St Lawrence island, somewhat similar in outline to the scoop last 
described. 

Plate XXX. 18, from Sledge island, is a sijoon with a deep liowl and 
a short, ueatly turned handle. 

Plate XXX, 11, from Kulwoguwigumnt, is a short-handle spoon 
having a narrow black line extending around the inner border of the 
bowl, in the center of whicii are the tigures of three reindeer and a 
large pair of antlers in black. 

Plate XXX, 1-1, from Knshunuk. is a short handle spoon with a 
S(|uare, shovel-shape edge. 

Plate XXX, 13, is similar to the last in shape, but has on tlie inside 
of its bowl the figure of a leiudeer in black. 

Plate XXX, 12, from Kaialigamut, is a scoop-shape spoon, with a con- 
ventional rei)resentation of a. wolf like animal on (he bowl, which is 
also ornamented with bordering lines of black, and is dotted over with 
round, red spots. 

Plate XXX, 7, from Point Hope, is a small ivory spoon, with a liole in 
the handle, to which is attached a piece of rawhide cord. 



Plate XXX, 4, from Aii"gogmat, is a Hat sjioon, made from reindeer 
horn, having its smooth upper surface ornamented with three concentric 
circles and a black dot, and two parallel incised lines which extend 
around the surface just inside the border. 

Plate XXX, .'5, from Kushumik, is a long, narrow spoon of deerhorn, 
with a hole in the end of the handle for attaching a cord. 

Plate XXX, 5, from Kushumik, is a deerhorn spoon, oval on th(^ iniuir 
side and straight on the outer side, with a short handle projecting spur- 
like on one side. 

Plate XXX, S, from Iviishunuk, is a S] n with a shovel sliai)e bowl 

and a projecting arm-like handle at one corner. 

Plate XXX, (i, from Kushunuk, is a long-bowl, scoop sliape spoon 
without any distinct handle. 

A rudely made spoon of walrus ivory, from St Lawn^nce island, is 
representeil in i)late xxx, 2. It has a hole at one end of the handle for 
attaching a cord. Spoons sindlar in shape were obtained also on the 
Dioniede islands. 

Plate xxx, 1, from Pastolik, is a spoon for extracting the marrow from 
bones. The handle is scalloped to receive the lingers; two parallel 
lines are etched along the borders of the scallops, which terminate below 
with the raven totem mark. A deerhorn marrow spoon from Kigik- 



70 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |eth, ann, 18 

tanik lias a roaii(U'd tip and scallojied handle, as sliown in the accom- 
panying tii;uie 20. 

WuoUEN mSHES. TRAYS, AND BUCKETS 

The Tiiinc of the lower Vnkoii, adjoining the territory occupied by 
the Eskimo, are expert in woodworking. They fashion from spruce 
large numbers of wooden dishes, buckets, trays, and ladles, which they 
oriianieiit with red and black paint, and the maker usually places his 
totem mark on each utensil. They make trips down the river for the 
]iurpose of selling their products to the Eskimo, and travel as far as St 
JNIichael on the seacoast. In addition to this trade with the Eskimo, 
the articles manufactured by these people are distributed over a much 
greater extent of territory by means of intertribal trading among the 
Eskimo themselves. 

Besides the ware of this kind obtained from the Tinne, the Eskimo 
make similar articles themselves, which are as a rule ecjually well made. 
Examples of this class of work are shown in the ladles, dippers, and 
spoons already described and illustrated. The simplest form of tray 
or dish made by the Eskimo is that cut from a single piece of wood, 
and this variety of utensil is found over a wide area. 

Plate XXXI, 1, represents a rude bowl-shape wooden dish from Icy 
cape, slightly flattened below to enable it to stand safely. 

Figure '2 of the same plate, from St Lawrence island, is a slightly 
pear-sJiape, dipper-like dish, with a flattened bottom and a short, pro- 
jecting handle on one side. This is rather rudely made, as are all the 
articles obtained on this island. 

Figure !•, from the same island, is a tray-like dish with a long, 
obovate outline above, and slightly flattened below, with the handle 
projecting upright from one end. It is rudely made and is without 
ornamentation. 

Figure 0, from the lower Yukon, is a handsomely made, tray-like dish, 
cut from a single piece and bordered around the edge, outside and in, 
with a band of red paint, inside of which are two parallel narrow black 
lines connected by similar straight crosslines. 

Figun^ 5, from Chalitmut, is a deep tray, oval in outline and having 
the head of an animal at one end, which serves as a handle. At the 
other end is a short, quadrate projection representing the animal's 
tail. It is bordered around by a band of red, succeeded by an uncol 
ored area and a red line in a groove around the outside. The bottom, 
both within and without, is uncolored. 

Figure 4, from Big lake, is a smoothly finished, deep, tray-like dish. 
The rim is bordered with red and the inside is i)ainted black. At one 
end projects a carving representing the head and neck of a human being. 
The lace is turned upward and a short string of beads hangs from each 
ear. Two white beads are inlaid to rejiresent labrets, and a blue bead 
hangs from the pierced septum. A circular piece of wood was cut from 
the rear of the head, through which the latter was excavated, and the 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XXVI 




WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF CAPE SMITH 



NKLsuNi UTKNSILS OF WOOD 71 

moiitli and the eyes were pii-rcfd into tlie IkiIIow intfiior. This oiitiro 
is closed with a neatly fitted circular piece of wood. 

Figure 8 represents a very well made traysliai)e disli IVoni llig lake; 
it is oval in outline and is cut from a single block. Projecting I'rom 
each end are carved figures of grotesque human heads which serve as 
handles; the eyes are represented by white beads, and otiiers are set 
around the grooved upper edge of the dish. The lower surface is not 
painted. A groove around the inside, below the edge, is painted black, 
succeeded by a red border, below which is a narrow black line. The 
inside bottom is ornamented with a large figure of a ([uadruped with 
a short tail and a curious bird like head marked with a crest. 

Another kind of shallow tray or dish is made from two ])ieces of 
wood, the bottom shaped like a truncated cone, the base of whi<'h is 
turned up and chamfered to fit in a groove on the inside of the rim. 

In most specimens the narrow, h-dge-like rim is made from a thick 
strip ot wood, softened by steam, and then bent around with the beveled 
(>nds overlapping and fastened together with wooden iiegs. These are 
in general use on the American (;oast and on the islands of Bering sea. 

Specimens from St Lawrence island are made in tlu; same way except 
that the overlapping ends are sewed together with whalebone. The 
ledge like borders are beveled to a central ridge on the inside and are 
plane along their outer surfaces; in the middle on each side these bor- 
dering strips are thickened slightly, in order that in bemling them the 
curves shall be thrown out regularly. 

A tray of this kind from Nuhikhtulogumut, represented in plate 
xxxii, 3, is painted red around the rim and on the inside to co\cr the 
border. Just inside this is a narrow black line, and on the bottom is 
l)ainted in black a grotesque figure of some mythologic animal having 
upraised hands with pierced ]>alms; along one side of this tigiire is a 
row of five walruses and on the other five seals. 

I'late XXXII, 8. shows a handsomely made tray of similar character, 
also from 2sulukhtuloguumt. It is about fourteen inches in length and 
has inlaid around the beveled inner edge of the rim a series of eight 
neatly cut, almond-shape i)ieces of white stone. The rim, both outside 
and in. is ])ainted red, as is the upper edge on the inside. Just below 
this, on the inside, ;ire two parallel, narrow black lines, and i)ainted in 
black on the bottom is a grotestpie figure of some mythological animal, 
showing anatomical details. 

Plate XXXII, i', from the same locality as the last, is simllai to it in 
form and has two mythological figures with heads like reindeer painted 
in black oti the inside. 

Specimen number 45494, from Ikogniut Mission), is a large tray 
measuring about 1.'8 inches in length and 18 inches in width. It is 
painted red around the border, and h's two parallel black lines inside. 
On the bottom appears an alligator like coiled figure, inside of wliich 
a mythologic animal is [lainted in black. 



72 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

Plate XXXII, 7, from St Lawrence island, is another type of tray made 
from a broad, flat piece of spruce, which has a square groove cut across 
inside of each end; a strip of wood is beut upward to meet the end 
pieces, which are fitted into the grooves and held in place by means of 
thin strips of whalebone sewed tlirough holes in both edges. This is 
a rude piece of work, showing none of the finish characteristic of speci 
mens from the American coast. It is the only tray of this kind tliat 
was seen. 

Another style of utensil made in a similar manner to the trays, but 
with the overlapping ends sewed in two parallel seams by means of 
spruce roots, are the large tubs nsed for containing water, seal oil, 
berries, and other food supplies. 

Specimen number 45495 is a tub of ihis kind from Ikogmut. Its sides 
are Hi inches high above the up])er edge of the bottom, which is exca- 
vated and of tray shai)e, with chamfered edges to lit into a groove around 
the inner edge of the side. The outline of the utensil is an elongated 
oval and measures twenty-two inches in length. Some tubs are larger 
than this; others are smaller and serve for many uses in the domestic 
economy of these people. One of the smaller sizes, from St Lawrence 
island (plate xxxii, 1), 9 inches long, 2.i inches deep, is the ordinary 
style of urine tub nsed by the Eskimo throughout the coast and islands 
visited. This with others of the same Ibrm obtained ou St Lawrence 
island, have the overlapping ends united by sewing thin strips of 
whalebone through slit like holes made for the juirpose. The buckets 
used for carrying water are similar in form, the only difference being 
that they are provided with a handle or bail. 

A specimen from St Lawrence island (number (loL'oT) has a bail made 
of a narrow, (-urved piece of bone cut from the jaw or rib of a whale and 
fastened at each end by whalebone strips i)assed through holes pierced 
in the edges of the bucket and in the ends of the handle. A small 
bucket from Cape Vancouver (plate xxxii, G) has the overlapping ends 
of the sides fastened by means of two seams sewed with spruce roots. 
The bail is a thin, narrow strip of reindeer antler, with a hole pierced 
in each end; it is bent and sprung over the inwardly projecting ends 
of two short bone pegs which are inserted through the rim on each side. 

Plate XXXII, 4, from Kushunuk, is very similar to the preceding, 
except that the curved handle has the holes in its ends fitted over a 
round, slender rod of wood which extends across the top of the bucket, 
piercing the rim on each side. 

Figure 5 of the same plate, from Kaialigamut, has the handle made 
from spruce roots, several turns of which are passed through holes 
made for the purpose in the sides of the rim and then united by having 
the end wound around the strands crossing the top of the bucket and 
fastened at one side. From oiie side of the handle hangs a feather 
attached by a sinew cord. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOQV 



PORT PL. XXVII 




BELT FASTENERS ^cven-,-,ia TLfc i\ u 



IMl'l.EMENTS AXU UTKNSILS 73 



In connection with tin- loundbottoin trays used to contain luod, 
broadliead wooden pestles are used tor crushing berries, seal fat, or 
lis-ers of birds and iish with which various pastry mixtures are made. 

Plate XXXI, •!. from the lower Yukon, and plate xxxi, 7, from Ikog- 
mut, re])resent typical examples of these implements. They aie made 
of wood, with large spreading heads and slightly convex lower sur- 
faces; they taper in somewhat conical form towiird the handle, wliiih 
iu one consists of a large ring cut from the same i)iece as the head, 
and in the other has a tiaring rim shaped like the bottom of a goblet. 

BLX'BBER HOOKS AND ("ARRIEliS 

Figure s, plate xxxiiirt, illustrates a hook for handling blubber, 
obtained on Nunivak island by Doctor Dall. It consists of a short 
■wooden handle curved to a pistol-like grip at the upper end, and having 
a slot on the inside of the lower end, in which is set the butt of a 
sliarp-pointed ivory spur, which is pierced with a large hole, through 
which passes a strong rawhide lashing, which also passes through the 
wooden handle a little above the insertion of tiie ivory point. The 
base of the ivory point is held in position in the slot l>y means of an 
ivory pin, which is inserted through a hole made in the handle and in 
the base of the hook. 

A curious article, intended for carrying small pieces of meat or other 
articles when traveling (tigure !t. jilate xxxiii((), was obtained at Chalit- 
mut. It consists of a wooden handle about seven inches long, slightly 
curved along the middle and pierced near both ends to adnut the points 
of a cresceutic rod of deerhoru, truncated at one end and pointed at 
the other, which is passed through one end of the wooden handle and 
wedged in by a wooden pin; the i)ointed end tits into the hole in the 
o])posite side. .Tust above this the handle is pierced to receive a raw- 
hide loop, by which it can be hung up or carried. Pieces of meat or 
other objects are placed upon the carrier by being slipped upon the 
rod, which is withdrawn for the purpose, after which it is returned and 
the point again inserted into the hole in which it fits. 

BAGS FOR WATER AND OIL 

For carrying water or seal oil while making hunting trijis at sea or 
on land small bags made from the stomachs or the bladders of reindeer, 
white whale, seal, or walrus are in common use. They hold from one 
to four (luarts, and usually are i)rovided with ivory nozzles, which are 
inserted in the narrow necks of the bags, and are then lirmly lashed 
with sinew cord above the ])r()jecting ridge at tin; inner ends of the 
nozzles. In order that they may be filled easily tliese nozzles are 
made usually with a slightly tiaring moutlii>iece, which sometimes is 



74 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |eth.ann i8 

suiKiuiuled by a tlaring, soiuewliat spoon-shape rim. The oritice is 
usually rather small, and is provided with a woodeu plug or stopper. 
Ocoasioually a funnel is used for tilling water bags or small oil bags of 
this character. 

Oue specimeu of this kind of nozzle from St Michael (tigure 11, |>late 
XXXIII «) is of wood. The top is of spoon shape, rather tlat in outline, 
with one end iu the form of a grotesque walrus head with small ivory 
tusks and eyes represented by inlaid ivory pegs; the other cud repre- 
sents the hind tlip])ers of the walrus, and the fore Hippers are painted 
on the inside of the top near the edge. The broad top is excavated 
downward to the center, where it is perforated by a round hole. The 
lower surface is convex, with a round, projecting, stopper-like base for 
inserting iu the mouth of the bag. 

Figure 5, plate xxxiiirf, from 8t Michael, is a spoon-shape nozzle, 
with a projection below through which the hole passes. It is x^rovided 
with a woodeu stopper attached to a sealskin cord which is fastened 
into a hole made in a handle-like projection at oue end. 

Figure G of the same plate, from Nuuvogulukhlugumut, is a some- 
what similar spoon-shape nozzle, with a wooden stopper attached to a 
cord fastened into a hole at one end. 

Figure 2, from Agiukchugumut, is a funnel-shape mouthpiece, with 
a wooden stopper inserted in a hole in the lower part of the wide- 
mouth upper eud. The outside is marked with raven totem signs. 

Figure i^ from Anogogmnt, has a funnel-shape mouthpiece, with its 
outer rim marked with raven totem signs. 

Figure -i, from the lower Kuskokwim, is a funnel-shape ivory 
nozzle, with the interior beveled. The outlines of a wolf and a white 
whale are incised on opposite sides of the opening in the interior. The 
outer border is marked with the raven totem sign. 

Figure 12, from Norton sound, is a nozzle made from walrus ivory; 
the surface is ornamented with etched lines and patterus, and the form 
of a seal's head and back appear in relief on two sides. 

Figure 7, from St Michael, is a conical mouthpiece without orna- 
mentation. 

Figure 10, from Sfugunuguuuit, is a water bag, witli a funnel-like 
wooden nozzle provided with a wooden stopper attached by a cord. 



Plate xxxv, 2, re])resents a rake, from Sabotnisky, made from 
a piece of reiudeer antler with the tips curved inward; the handle is 
worked down flat ou the lower and flattened a little on the upper side, 
and has a notch for lashing it to a stout wooden haft, the lashing pass- 
ing through a hole in the handle. This implement is used for taking 
away the refuse in the tire hole of the hishim or for clearing away 
refuse material while building a house. It is used also for cleaning 



BUREAU liF AMERICAN ETHNOLOQy 



CliiHT FFNTH ANNUAL REPtiWf ^L XX 




LAMPS AND POTS ione-fifth 



sKi^xN] IMn.KMENTS OK VARKirs KINDS 7o 

drift niiitei'ial fVoiii about the iihico wlicic nets or tisli traps arc set in 
rivers or small streams. 

ROOT PICKS 

Small picks, inatle from bone or ivory, witli wooden liandlcs. are used 
by the women for digging- the edible bulbous roots of a species of gras.s 
which grows on the plains from the Kuskokwim northward to IJering 
strait. 

Figure 3, plate wxiii/;, illustrates one of three picks from Norton 
sound. It has a tlat, wooden handle with two large scallojjed incisions 
near the butt to aid in grasping witli the hand; it is grooved and i>ierced 
by two holes. The pick is made from a long, iiointed. .slender rod of 
walrus ivory, held in position against a groove along the front of the 
handle by rawhitle lashings which pass through the holes. 

Figure 1 of the same i>late shows a pick obtained on Niinlvak ishiud 
by Doctor Dall. It has a rounded, wooden handle, with a knob like 
bead, flattened in front to receive the pick and pierced by two holes for 
lashings. The pick is half of a walrus tusk, and its flattened side is 
bound against the front of the handle by rawhide lashings passing 
through two holes in the handle ami two corresponding holes in the pick. 

Figure 2, from Cape Xome, is a small ivory handle for a root ])ick, 
grooved along the front to receive the pick and jiierced by two holes 
for binding it in position; a third hole, midway of the lower side of the 
handle, is intended for another lashing, to form a brace on the lower 
part of the pick. 

BOMK liKEAIiEIISi 

For the purjiose of breaking large bones in order to extract the 
marrow, stone implements are used. These in some cases are siniidy 
hammer-like stones, used without haiuUes, Init they are fretiucntly 
of very bard stoiu», grouiul to a smooth i>olish and fastened by tliongs 
to a short handle of wood or other material. 

Plate XXXIX, .">, represents a small liammershape bone breaker of pec- 
tolite from Cai)e Nome. It is somewhat oblong in cross section, with 
rounded corners. The sides are smoothly polished, but the ends are 
battered and worn down by use. 

At Point Hope there was seen a handsome stone breaker of clear 
white quartz. It weighed about a pound and a half ami was i)olished 
to four very regular surfaces, with the comers somewhat rounded, 
and was secured to a wooden handle by a rawhide lashing. 

FIKEMAK IN(1 niI'LK3IE.\TS 

The method of obtaining lire, common to so many savage races, 
from the heat developeil by the friction of a stick worked with great 
rapidity on a piece of soft wood by means of a cord, was foiiud in 
common use among the Eskimo throughout the region visited, and the 



76 THE ESKIMO AI!l)UT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

people of the lower Yukon and tlieiiee sontliward to the Knskokwim 
were specially expert iii its api)lication. 

A siiuill uotch is cut in the lire stick, in which the point of the drill 
is inserted, while the upper end, which usually is capped with a piece 
of stone or boue, is held in the month; the rapid revolution of the drill 
develops sufficient heat to set fire to the dust produced by the friction 
which accumulates around the pivot of the drill. This lire is then 
transferred to a small piece of punk or tinder and fanned into a tlaine. 

Plate XXXIV, 3, represents a flat stick, from Norton sound, used for 
fire making. It is of dry spruce, having a deep groove along its 
upper surface, with a series of little notches opposite each other in 
pairs along the whole length; near one end are four small circular 
pits, where the drill has been used. Figure 2 of this phite shows the 
drill intended for use with the fire stick. It is a round, slightly 
tapering stick of spruce, about 19 inches in length, and lias the upper 
end painted red; the bow also is made of spruce, and is about Iti 
inches long, with a rawhide sealskin cord attached to tlie holes in the 
ends. With this is used the ordinary mouthpiece cap (figure 1 of the 
same plate) slightly crescentic in form, with a square piece of white 
quartz set in its lower side. 

Figures 4, 5, 7, and 8 of jjlate xxxiv illustrate a set of fire-making 
implements, from (Jhalitmut, consisting of a large drill, the cap of which 
has a piece of obsidian set in its lower surface, a double-hand drill 
cord with handles made from the points of small walrus tusks, and a 
broad fire stick with a stej) like ledge on one side and several holes 
along the center where the drill has been used. 

In plate xxxiv, 0, is shown a broad tire stick obtained at Cape Van- 
couver. It is made with a ledge along one side which slopes inward 
a trifle toward the center, where holes have been bored in making fire. 
The surface of this si)ecimen is covered with deep holes, showing that 
it has frequently been used. 

Plate XXXIV, <>, represents a tinder box from St Michael. It is (ii 
inches in length, and is made from a section of reindeer horn, truncated 
at each end and of roughly oval shape in cross section. It has a long, 
oval opening on one side, through which the interior was excavated. 

In addition to ])rocuring fire by means of drills the Eskimo make 
common use of flint and steel. Sometimes the steel is replaced by a 
piece of iron pyrites, but usually a fragment of an old knife-blade or 
other steel object is carried. The flint is held between the thumb and 
forefinger of the left hand. Just above a little wad of tinder which fre- 
quently consists of fur jducked from a garment. The steel is grasped 
in the right hand, and as the downward blow is struck the spark ignites 
the tinder, which is then transferred to the bowl of the pipe, or to a 
laiger piece of tinder surrounded by fine shavings if the operator wishes 
to kindle a fire. 

Of late years matches have been sold by the fur traders and are 
greatly prized by these people, who are always anxious to obtain them. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOQ 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL 




LADLES AND DIPPERS 'une-fiftH' 



IMPLEMENTS OF VARIOU.S KINDS 



SNOW liEATKKS 

For beatiiij;- snow Crom liools, clotliin,!;-, ;iiul other articles 
fur, the western Eskimo use a hmg, tlattened pieee dt' l)oiie, i 
(leerhorn. Some of these are nearly straij;lit, wliile others a 
or less curved. 

Figure 21, 1, represents a heater of this kind, liom Sahotnisk 
from walrus ivory, smaller at one end, where a strip of wood i 
on the inner side by means of rawhide cord in order to give 
grip. This implement is suboval in cross section and is much 
tiiau is usually the case. 



made of 
xory, or 
re more 

y, made 
s lash(^(l 
■i firmer 
hravirr 




A strongly curved beater from the lower Yukon (ligure 21, 2) is made 
from sjilit deerhorn with a knob, carved into the form of a man's head, 
terminating the handle. A snow beater brought from St Lawrence 
island is exactly like the one from the lower "\'nkon in shai)e and mate- 
rial, including th«i knob at the end of the handle, except that the latter 
is not carved. 

The specimen from Sledge island shown in lignre 21, 1, is made from 
walrus ivory, with a rounded wooden handle lilted upon one einh on 
the inside it has a central ridge and on the back is a broad, shallow 
groove. 

A long snow beater from Cape Prince of Wales (ligure 21, ~>) is imide 
of a thin piece of whalebone, narrowed a little toward the handle and 



78 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT HERINU STRAIT 



pierced with a series of boles, througli which cords are passed and 
wrapped around the handle to give a stronger grip. A double cord, 
alKiut two inches in length, with a kuob made from a little roll of cloth 

at its u])per end, is attached to the 
handle, and serves for buttoning this 
imi)lemeut to the belt so that it may 
be carried conveniently. 

Another specimen from Cape Prince 
of Wales (figure l-'l, 3) consists of a 
long, tapering piece of ivory, nearly 
flat on one side and beveled to three 
surfaces on the other; the handle has 
a series of notches along each border. 
Strongly curved beaters of deer- 
horn, similar to those found ou St 
Lawrence island and the lower Yukon, 
were observed in use among the na- 
tives of the eastern Siberian coast. 

SNOW SHOVELS AND ICE PICKS 

In the region visited, the Eskimo use 
wooden or bone shovels for clearing 
away snow from around their houses 
or for excavating the snowdrifts. 

Picks of walrus ivory or deerhorn 
are also used for removing frozen snow, 
for cutting holes in the ice for Ashing, 
and for other purposes. 

A fine wooden snow shovel from 
Point Barrow is rei)resented in plate 
XXXV, 4. The blade is broad, nearly 
flat, and formed of three pieces, held 
together by means of lashings of 
whalebone passed through holes bored 
for that purpose; the lower edge of 
the wood is fitted by a tongue into a 
groove, in a sharp, flat piece of walrus 
ivory, which is fastened by a series of 
wooden i)egs. A blue bead is inlaid 
on the upper part of the blade near 
tlie handle. Tlie handle is IS mches 
in length and subtriangular in cross 
section ; the upper end is bound with 

braided cord of sinew, to give a firm grip for the hands, while on the 

lower end, near the blade, is a lashing of whalebone. 

Figure 22, 2, from St Lawrence island, is a rude shovel made from a 




BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTFENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. 




SPOONS AND LADLES aboot t.vo-ninth=, 



^iin\i;Ls, I'icKs, AND malij:t> 



79 



l>iece of the jawbone of a wiialo, worked down to ii tliiii, Hat hi 
roughly rounded in oul line. On its upper edjje is a i)rqjeetion to w 
a stout wooden biindle is fastened by means of a strong lasliin 
rawhide, which passes through two grooves and two hoI<\s ia the bl 

Figure. 22, 1, from Ikogmut, is a wooden shovel witli a long, Hat b 
aud curved handle carved from one i)iece. The back surface of 
blade is slightly convex, with a medium ridge which extends upwar 
the handle. The back and the 
portion of the handle where 
held are painted red. On the 
inner surface of the blade, 
near the handle, is the i)rivate 
mark of the owner, consisting 
of an incised circle and two 
straight gi-ooves extending ob- 
liquely outward from its upper 
edge to the shoulders of the 
blade. 

Plate XXXV, 1, represents an 
ice pick obtained at Point liar- 
row. It is made from a small 
walrus tusk attached to a tiat 
wooden handle by strong raw- 
hide lashing jiassed through a 
hole m the handle and two 
holes in the butt of the pick. 
The handle is wrapped in two 
places with braided sinew cord, 
to aiford a firm grip for both 
hands, above which are slight 
projections of the wood to pre- 
vent it from slip])iug. 



JIALLETS 

Mallets of wood or deerhorn 
are used for breaking ice from 
the framework of fish trajis 
and sledge runners, foi- dri\in 
purposes. 

Figure 23, 1, from .Sabotnisky, is a decrlioin mailer a 

in length, with one end worked down to a tiatteiied handle 
other having a i-ouuded knob truncated ui)oii one Wwx'. The h 
])ier(-ed for the reception of a rawhide cord, by means of wl 
mallet can be suspended Irom the wrist. 

Figure 23, ."., from ikogmut, is a. small wooden mallet with a 
rod like handle about "».', inches in len<;tii; the head is made 



ade. 



ade. 
ade 
the 

d to 




-' i Ill-lies 
mill the 
aiidle is 
lirii the 

slender 
from a 



so THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |eth an.n. 18 

rouuiled j^rowtli of wood which had formed an excrescence ou the 
branch which serves as tiie handle. 

Figure '2:i, 2, from Sabotnisky, is a small deerhorn mallet with a han- 
dle 3A inches in length, pierced at its outer end for a cord and with 
the head rounded above and truncated below. In the front are carved 
two large, eye-like cavities with a rudely shajtcd nose and a slightly 
incised groove to represent the mouth, giving the front a resemblance 
to a grotesque human face. 

IMPLEMENTS USED IN ARTS AXI) MANUI-^ICTITRES 

IVORY AND BONE -WOUKINCf TOOLS 

III former times the tools used by the Eskimo for working ivory, bone, 
and deerhorn were chipped from Hint or other hard stones, and some- 
times for etching or scoring deeper lines the canine teeth of small 
mammals were used, mounted on a short handle. Since iron and steel 
have become common among them, however, tools made from these 
metals have superseded to a great extent the more primitive imple- 
ments. The tools now in use are scrapers, scoring or etching imple- 
ments, wedges for splitting the material, and narrow pieces of thin iron 
with serrated edges for use as saws. 

Figure 9, plate xxxvirt, is a small saw obtained at Port Clarence by 
Dr T. II. Bean. The blade is set in a handle in a manner similar to 
that of a table knife. 

Figure 10 of the same plate is a saw from Cape Pi'ince of Wales, 
evidently modeled from those in use by white men. It is 11 inches 
long: the blade is a long, narrow strip of iron with teeth cut in the lower 
edge; it is riveted into slots in small round pieces of ivory which are 
fiistened into a wooden frame. A wooden rod extends across the 
middle of the frame into ■\\hich it is dovetailed; a double cord of raw- 
hide is stretched across the frame, between the two strands of which 
a piece of bone is inserted for twisting the cords and thereby tighten- 
ing the blade of the saw in the frame. 

Another style of saw is made by inserting a narrow piece of iron with 
a serrated edge in a slot cut in a long piece of ivory, horn, or bone. 
Sometimes these saws are mere strips of iron with teeth cut in one 
edge and without either handle or frame. 

Figure 0, plate xxxvirt, represents a frame for one of these saws from 
Unalaklit. It is made of reindeer horn and has a iirqjecting spur on its 
U])ppr side, the same end being bent downward to serve as a handle. 

Figure 7 of this plate is a scoring or etching implement from the 
Yukon district. The iron point is wedged firmly into a .slit in the end 
of the handle, which has a conical hole on one side, having evidently 
served as a cap for a drill. 

Figure 8, from Cape Darby, is a handle for one of these tools, made 
from two pieces of bone with a slot for fitting in an iron point; the two 
])ieces are riveted together by wooden pins, and a rawhide cord is 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLnG 



NTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XXXI 




TRAYS AND PESTLES one-fifth 



NELsuN] IVORY-WORKINCJ TOOLS — DRILLS 81 

wrapped tightly around the lower eud to hold the iron point lirnily in 
position. 

Figure .{ is an iron pointed awl, from Glialitinut, used as an ctcldng 
tool in ivory working as well as for a bodkin. 

Figure 1, from St Lawrence island, is a similar tool of sliglitly differ- 
ent construction, being made with a slot on one side of the handle into 
which the eud of the blade is placed; a wooden plug is then litted over 
the slot, and the end wrai)ped around with a sinew cord to hold the 
blade and plug in position. From St Lawrence island another imple- 
ment of this kind was obtained; it is made in the ordiiuiry style, with 
the blade wedged into a hole cut in the bone handle. 

From the same locality came another specimen (tigure 4, plate 
xxxvia) which has the blade fitted into a slot cut in the side of the 
wooden handle, and held in jjosition by a wrai)ping of whalebone, one 
end of wliich is set in a slit in the handle. Tiiis is one of the rudest 
implements of the kind obtained. 

Figure o, from St Lawrence island, is au ivory working tool with a 
curved blade made of iron set in a notch in the end of the handle. 
Figure U, from St Michael, is another style of ivory working tool. It 
lias a curved handle with a snudl iron blade set in a slot near the end 
of the handle on the lower side. 

DRILLS, DRILL-liOWS, AND CAI'S 

Drills are used for piercing holes in bone, ivory, reindeer antler, or 
wood. They consist of a wooden shaft with a jwint of stone or iron 
merely inserted in tlie wood or sometimes held firmly in jilace by wrap- 
ping with sinew or rawliide. A caj) is fitted over the upper end, and 
the shaft is nuide to revolve rapidly by means of a stont rawhide cord 
l>assed twice around it and sawed backward and forward by the oper- 
ator who grasps haiuUes in the ends of the cords. Tlie large drills, 
used for boring holes in wood when manufacturing tlie frames of umiaks, 
kaiaks, and sledges, or in bone for sledge runners, are worked by two- 
men, one of whom presses down ou the cap of the stem and keeps it in 
position while the other works the cord. 

Smaller drills, with finer points, for more miuute work are operated 
by one man, a bow being used iustead of a loose cord, which enables 
the operator to use his left hand to hold the shaft in i)osition by ])ress- 
ing on the cap. If tlie material be hard and diflicult to drill the cap 
piece is grasped in the teeth and both hands used to work the bow; or 
sometimes, if a small object is to be drilled, it is held in the left hand, 
the cap is held in the teeth, and the ilrill bow worked by the right 
hand. 

Plate XXXVII, S, obtained at Point IJanow by Lieutenant liay, is 
a large drill with a wooden stem, and with a well-made flint point 
inserted in its lower end and held fast by a wrapping of sinew cord. 
It is intended to be used with the double-hand (^ord. 

Figure 7 of the same plate, also obtained by Lieutenant Itay from 
18 ETH 



82 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

tbe same locality, has a Hint point iiiouuted in a hollowed boue ferrule 
to fit ou the lower end of the shaft. 

Figure 10, from Norton sound, is a drill having the iron point 
mounted in a bone head, the base of which is divided by a wedge- 
shape slot in which the wooden shaft is mounted and held in place by 
a wrapi>iug of rawhide. 

Figure 9, from Cape Nome, is also an iron-point drill, mounted simi- 
larly to the preceding except that the wooden shaft is held in position 
in the bone head by rivets. 

Figure 3, from St Lawrence island, is a drill with a broad. Hat point 
of iron inserted in the wooden shaft without any wrapping or other 
fastening. 

Figure -i, from St Lawrence island, is somewhat similarly mounted, 
but the point of the shaft is tapered down and wrapped with a strip of 
whalebone. 

Figure .5, from Norton sound, has a greenstone point mounted in 
the end of a wooden shaft and held in place by a wrapping of sinew. 
Another specimen, from Hotham inlet, is provided with a finely made 
nephrite point. 

Figure <>, from Paimut, is a similarly made greenish stone drill 
point. 

Figure 2, fi*om St Lawrence island, is another small drill. It has 
the lower end of the stock narrowed down and wrapjied with sinew to 
hold the point in i)Osition. 

The large canine teeth of bears are commonly used for the cross 
handles at the ends of the drill cords; they are drilled crosswise 
through the middle, and the cord is then passed through and fastened 
at each end. Figure 21, from Norton sound, is an example of these 
handles. Various other forms of drill handles are used; some are 
made from the wing-bones of waterfowl ; others are carved from deer- 
horn or ivory to represent seals, fish, or other forms. 

Figure 14, from Kotzebue sound, shows one of a pair of handles made 
from smooth bars of walrus ivory, slightly curved on their outer surface 
and having a double curve on the inside, in which the fingers rest 
when grasping it. 

Figure 15, from St Michael, is another of these handles carved from 
walrus ivory to represent two heads of a white bear. 

Figure 20, from Paimut, represents a pair of handles, each in the 
form of a fish-like creature with the tail of a white whale. Caps for 
drill shafts to be used with d(mble-hand cords are made usually with 
the top smoothly rounded ; sometimes they are large enough only for 
one hand, but ordinarily are made for grasping with both. Nearly all 
of these objects are provided with a hole m one end for attaching to 
the drill cord when not in use. They are generally made of wood, with 
a piece of stone set in the lower side, in which is a small conical depres- 
sion to receive the top of the shaft. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG 




TRAYS AND BUCKETS 'une-fifth 



KEisoK] DRILL -CAPS 83 

Figure 30, from St Lawrence islaiul. is a piece of walrus tusk. al)ont 
five inches in length, roughly oblong in shajjc, with a conical depression 
in one side for receiving the top of the shaft. 

Figure 29, from the same locality, is another rough piece of walrus 
tusk, made with a conical depression in each side for receiving tlie to]) 
of the shaft. These two are the rudest implements of this dc^scription 
that were obtained. 

Figure L'7 is a cap having the wood rudely carved into tlie form of a 
seal, with a square hole through the tail, in which the drill cord can be 
tied when not in use. This specimen is from the Kuskokwiui. 

Figure 22, from Norton sound, is a cap with an oval piece of white 
quartz set in the lower side and the wooden portion carved in the form 
of a wolf tish. 

Figure 28, from Cape Nome, has a S(inare ])iece of grayish-white 
stone set in its lower surface, and the two long arms, one at each end, 
are carved to represent the heads of white bears. This drill cai) is 
intended to be used either singly, with the crossbar mouthpiece, or by 
grasping the ends with the hands. Figure 27, from the Kuskokwim, 
is a similar cap, having inserted a piece of stone, mottled green, black, 
and white in color. 

Figure 23, from Agiukchugunmt, is made in the form of a seal, with 
a hard, milky white, tlat stone set in its lower surface. 

Figure 2."), obtained on Nunivak island by Dr W. H. Dall, is made 
from an oval piece of wliite quartz with a conical depression in its lower 
surface. A groove extends around the side, in which is fastened a raw- 
hide cord with a loop at one end to which the drill cord can be fastened. 

Figure 24, from Sabotnisky, is a long, oval, green and black stone, 
having the usual conical pit iu one side; this, like the preceding, is 
made for holding in one baud. 

Figure 20, from Cape Nome, is a long, rather slender cap or handle 
of wood, having a small, square piece of stone set in its lower surface 
and provided with a projecting block on its upper side for grasping 
with the teeth; it is carved at eacli end to'rejireseut a wolfs head, and 
is intended for use with either a large or a small drill. A cap obtained 
at Cape Darby is also made to serve for both kinds of drills. 

The caps to be used exclusively with the small drills, worked with a 
bow. are always provided with a projecting block on the upper sur- 
face for grasping with the teeth, and are much more elaborately made 
than are those used with the larger drills. They are commonly some- 
what crescentic in form, and have a piece of stone or lead set in the con- 
vex lower surface: where stone is used it is cut usually into a square or 
rounded outline and is neatly inlaid. Two specimens, however, are of 
walrus ivory and are without any stone setting, the conical depression 
being made directly in the material of the caj). Of these, tigure K! is 
from Cape Nome and tigure 17 from the Diomede islands. 

Figure 11, from tlie lower Yukon, has a crescentic outline and is 
carved on the convex surface at one end to represent a human face and 



84 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. 



at the other the head of some animal. A lound piece of stoue is 
inserted in the center. 

From Yukon river and Munivak island were obtained rudely made 
specimens similar in character to those used with the double-hand 
cord, except that they have the back carved to permit of their being- 
seized in the teeth. 

Figure 13, from Kotzebue sound, is a crescentic ]>iece of wood with a 
square stone inlaid in its lower surface; a crossbar of wood for grasp- 
ing in the teeth is fastened on the upper surface by means of sti-oug 
rawhide wrappings. 

Figure 1, from Cape Nome, is a crescentic piece of wood pierced 
with a ti'iangular hole near each end, and a round stone is set in the 
center. 

Figure IS, from Norton sound, is a crescentic piece of wood with a 
square piece of iron set in the center, and a crescentic incision on each 
side of the thin upper border to give a hold for the teeth. 

Figure 19, from Norton sound, is a long, slender cap, having a gro- 
tesque head on each end. 

Figure 12, from the Diomede islands, is strongly crescentic, with a 
high ledge inside for grasping with the teeth, and with blue beads 
inlaid on each side of the stone center. 

Drill bows, some of which are nearly straight while others are 
strongly curved, measuring from 12 to 18 inches in length, are in com- 
mon use over all of the region visited. They are square, suboval, or 
triangular in cross section, and commonly have one or more of the sur- 
faces covered with etchings representing various incidents in the life of 
the owner, snch as a record of the animals killed by him on various 
hunts, the number of skins of certain animals he has possessed, or 
other personal data. 

Figure 7, plate xxxvift, from Sledge island, is a slender, nearly 
straight ivory bow, with one surface etched to represent houses, people, 
and umiaks. 

Figure 10 of the same plate, from the same locality, is triangular in 
cross section, and the three sides are covered with a great number of 
figures and scenes. 

Figure 11, from the Diomede islands, is a nearly straight ivory rod 
with the surfaces etched. 

Figure 3, from Cape Nome, is triangular iu cross section and has the 
three sides covered with a multitude of small etched figures. 

Figure 9, from Cape Darby, is triangular in cross section and has 
one side etched with figures. 

Figure l,from Cape Darby, is oblong iu section and strongly curved, 
with figures etched on two of its surfaces. Figure 2 shows a specimen 
from the same place that is etched on all of its sides. 

Figure .5, from Norton sound, is oblong in cross section, with two of 
its surfaces etched. 



UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY EICHTEENrH iNNliai REPORT PL. XXXIII 




MOUTHPIECES, BLUBBER HOOK, AND CARRIER .Abnut..r 




ROOT PICK J , Ar„,.,t ,,• • • ••■ 

IMPLEMENTS AND UTENSILS 



NEi^oN] DRILL-IiOWS KNIVES 85 

Figure C. from Xorton sound, lias one end teriniiiatiiig in a tigure 
representing tlie head of some animal and with etched lines and jiat- 
terns along two sides. 

Figure -1, from Norton sound, is a eur\ ed i)iecf of deer antler, (|uad- 
rangular in outline and etched on three of its sides. 

Figure 8, from Point Hope, is triangular iu cross section, witli the 
angles cut into scalloped outlines. 



For whittling, carving, ami linishing all kinds of woodwork the 
Eskimo use what is commonly called a "crooked knife,"' the curved 
blade of which varies from one to three inches in length, and is made 
usually from hoop iron or some similar scrap, but sometimes a i)ortion 
of a steel knife blade is cut and bent for this purpose. The handle of 
boue, horn, or wood tapers downward to a point, and is from four to 
fifteen inches in length. This knife is the principal tool used in fashion- 
ing and finishing a great variety of boxes, dishes, trays, tubs, spear- 
shafts, bows, arrows, and frames for umiaks, kaiaks, sledges, and other 
woodwork. The wood is first blocked out with an adze, after which it 
is cut into the desired shape, smoothed, and finished by patient labor 
with the knife. It is surprising to notice the dexterity with which this 
tool is used, and the excellent work produ('ed with it. 

One of these knives (i)late xxxviii, 20), from Xorton sound, has the 
blade .set in a groove iu the inner edge of the handle near the end, and 
with no othtr f;isteniug. The handle is wrai>ped with spruce roots 
just above the blade, in order to give a better grip for the hand. The 
under side of the handle has a conical depression, showing that it has 
been used as a cap for a small drillhead. 

Figure 31 of the same plate, from Nunivak island, is the rudest of 
all the knives of this kind that were obtained. It has a short, thick 
piece of iron wedged into a slot in the handle, while the inner end of the 
blade is held in place by sinew lashing. The lower side of the handle 
has a small conical depression, marking its use as a cap for a drillhead. 

From St Lawrence island wei-e obtained two knives of this descrip- 
tion, made of long, tapering pieces of iron set into wooden handles, but 
in a manner different from the foregoing. One of tliese (i)late xxxviii, 
27) has the inner end of the blade set in a deep, flat hole in the end of 
the handle, somewhat as the blade is set in an ordinary table knife. 
The handle is oval in cross section, with a slightly enlarged truncated 
end, and is only about four inches in length. Next to the blade is a 
groove, which serves to receive a sinew wrapping. 

Plate XXXVIII, 29, shows a knife of similar shape, but tlie end of the 
biade is fitted into a gore-shape slot sunk in the side of the handie, into 
wliich is fitted a thin strip of wood, filling it out so that the outline is 
continuous with the rest of the handle. Over this is wrapi)ed a sinew 
cord for holding the blade in place. 

Plate XXXVIII, 3(>, from Kulwoguwiyunuit. is a knife with a bone 



86 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

handle about lour inches long, crossed with diagonal, zigzag, etched 
lines, and scored with a series of straight lines running its length, with 
a groove around it near each end. In the end of the handle is wedged 
a short, straight, iron blade about two inches in length with a heavy 
back and a sharp edge. At the other extremity of the handle is a 
rawhide loop fastened into a hole by a wedge. 

Figure 25 of this plate, from Hotham inlet, has the blade fastened 
to the handle by two iron rivets; the upper surface of the handle is 
grooved for about four inches next the blade to enable a tirni gi-asp; 
the under surface of the handle is excavated. In the handle two holes 
are pierced for fastening the end of a cord by which a leather sheath is 
attached. 

Figure 22, from Hotham inlet, has the blade attached in the same 
manner as the preceding and has a handle of similar shape. Instead of 
grooves, as in the preceding specimen, this knife has a series of holes 
pierced along the front of the handle extending upward for about four 
inches, through which are ijassed two rawhide cords; these iire wound 
around a narrow strip of wood, holding it in place against the front 
edge of the handle to give a better grip for the hand. Attached to the 
handle is a leather sheath. 

Figure 19, from IS^orton sound, has a handle of two parts; the lower 
piece, to which the blade is riveted, is of bone, and the. upper of wood. 
They are neatly joined by a close wrapping of spruce root. 

Figure 28, from St Michael, has the blade fitted into a groove or slit 
made in the inner edge of the bone handle, which is wrapped with a 
stout rawhide cord to hold the blade in place, and has three shijis 
etched upon it. 



A llat, round-poiuted, chisel-like implement of bone is in common 
use for making incised grooves in wood preparatory to splitting it for 
use iu the manufacture of various articles. Specimens of tliese tools 
were obtained at different localities from the nunith of the Kuskokwim 
northward to Kotzebue sound. 

Plate xxxYiii, 14, represents a typical implement of this kind from 
Kotzebue sound. It is made of bone and has a sinew cord forming a 
loop for suspension i)assed through a hole near the head of the instru- 
ment. Another specimen, from Jvushuuuk (plate xxxviii, 12), is similar 
iu form, but slenderer. 

Plate XXXVIII, 10, from Sledge island, is a small tool of this character 
made of reindeer horn. It is very slender; the handle is bent at an 
angle with the shank and has the top neatly carved in the form of a 
reindeer hoof. The thin, narrow point is used for making small inci- 
sions in the wood of arrow or spear shafts for the purpose of inserting 
feathers, also for making little slits in which are fastened the ends of 
sinew wrappings of spears, arrows, or other implements. 



BUREAU OF iMERICAN ETHNOLOnV 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XXXIV 




FIRE-MAKING IMPLEMENTS one-FIFTH' 



CHISELS FINISHING TOOLS 



i^7 



Plate XXXVIII, 9, I'roiu Xusbuiiiik, is another slightly (unved iaiple- 
meiitof bone, suboval in cross sectiou and broiiglit down to a flattened, 
rounded, wedjie-sha])e ])oint. The handle is wrajiped with a line rootlet 
to atlbrd a tiruier jjrasp for the hand, and has a round hole near the eud 
for attachinj;' a cord. 

Plate XXXVIII, 15. from Ikoginut, is another of these wood-workiug 
chisels, made of bone, having tiie raven totem etched on the up]>er 
surface and a grotesque human countenance on the end of the handle; 
just below the head it is encircled by a series of ornamental lines and 
dots. Figure 13 of the same plate, from 
Sledge island, is a similar imi>leuient. 

In the acc<mipanying flgnre 24, '2, is 
shown a curved chisel of deerhorn for 
making wooden splints. It is very 
much discolored from age, and upon 
the inside of the curve are etched two 
raven totem sign.s. This chisel is from 
Kushunuk. 

Plate XXXVIII, 18, from the lower 
Kuskokwim, is another of these tools. 
It terminates at the upper eud in a 
carving which represents the head of a 
gull. Figure 24, 1, from Xunivak isl- 
and, is a broad-handle chisel of bone, 
roughly crescentic in cross section. It 
has the convex upper surface covered 
with etchings representing a seal with 
anatomical details; the interspaces is 
tilled with a complicated mixture of 
other flgnres representing tishes and 
various animals and conventional signs. 

POLISHING AND FINISHING TOOLS 

For producing a smooth surface and 
for finishing woodwork of all kinds 
when it is desired to complete it with 
more than usnal neatness, a variety of 
small implements of deer antler are used, in which are cut notches of 
varying form for the purpose of rubbing along the projecting angles 
and edges of the article in course of manufacture. 

Plate XXXVIII, 7, represents an implement of this kind from Sledge 
island, having a broad notch in each end. Plate xxxviii, 3. obtained 
at Port Clarence by Ur T. 11. Bean, is somewhat similar in character 
to the preceding. Figure G of this plate, from the lower Yukon, has a 
single notch in one end and a long, curved handle. Figures 1, 4, and .S 
are from the lower Yukon, and vary m the arrangement of the points 




Fid, ■J4-Wii"cl cliiscls (J). 



88 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



and notches. Figure li, also from the lo\yer Yukon, has tlie end cut 
into two notches with two points of dift'erent shape, one on each side. 
Figure 5, from the lower Yukou, shows still another form. 

Plate XXXVIII, 11, from the lower Yukon, is a bent piece of deerhorn 
having a screw-di-iver set in one end; the other end is fashioned into 
notches to form a finishing tool. 

Plate XXXVIII, 10, from Kotzebue sound, is a small piece of fossil 
mammoth ivory, with a rounded handle and a knob-like head, the lower 
surface of which is convex in shape and smoothly i)olished. The sides 
and the top of the handle are provided with hollows to receive the 
thumb and the first two fingers. 

AVKDGES AND MAULS 

Wedges of wood, bone, deerhorn, and ivory are used for splitting 
wood; they vary considerably in size, but the majority are from six to 
eight inches in length. Heavy wooden mauls are used for driving them. 

Plate XXXIX, 5, shows a wedge, from the Diomede islands, made 
from the butt of an old walrus tusk, beveled from both sides. Around 
the lower end is a broad, sunken groove for the attachment of a handle, 
thus permitting the use of the implement as an ax. 

Plate XXXIX, 0, represents a small wooden wedge used in making 
splints for fish traps. It has a short groove, painted red, on each side, 
which is said to I'epresent the track of a land otter in the snow and 
to be the private mark of the maker. Two more of these wedges were 
obtained from the same man, one of them being about five inches and 
the other eleven inches in length. 

Plate XXXIX, 4, represents a deerhorn wedge from the lower Yukon. 
From Point Hope was obtained a rude wedge, made from a piece of 
the jawbone of a whale and beveled on one of its two sides. 

I'late XXXIX, 2, from Xunivak island, obtained by Dr W. H. Dall, is 
a curiously shaped wedge of reindeer horn, having a projecting prong- 
on one side. In the middle is fastened a little tuft of reindeer hair by 
means of a peg inserted in a hole made for the purpose. 

Plate XXXIX, 7, from tst Lawrence island, is a wedge of walrus ivory. 

Plate XXXV, 3, from Hothani inlet, is a heavy maul or beetle made 
from a section of fossil niauunoth tusk about IS inches in length. 

ARROWSHAFT STRAIGHTENEES 

Straighteners for arrowshafts are in common use throughout western 
Alaska, and the collection contains a large series of implements of this 
kind. Deerhorn and walrus ivory are the materials commonly enijiloyed 
in their manufacture, and considerable ingenuity is shown in shaping 
them. 

Plate XL, 9, from the lower Yukon, is a small, roughly made shaft 
straightener of deerhorn, as is figure G of the same plate, from the same 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XXXV 







1 




t 



SNOW SHOVEL. PICK, RAKE, AND MAUL one-Fifth- 



NELSON] ARROWSHAFT STRAIOHTENERS UEAVKR-TOOTH TOOI.S. S9 

locality. A speciiiieii (figure 11) from (lolol'iiiu bay, m:i<le from ilcci'- 
borii, has one end sliapcd to represent the liead of a deer. I'^iyure 1, 
from Cape Nome, has a wcllearvcd head of a reindeer on the larger 
end, with the eye.s formed by inlaid beads; the other end terminates 
iu a rei)resentation of a lioof. 

riate XL, 3, from ('ape Nome, lias the larger end teriTiinatiiig in the 
form of tlie head and forelegs of a white bear, tlie eyes Iteiiig rejire- 
sented bj' bine beads. 

Plate XL, 12, from Sledge island, is of deerliorn, and has th(^ liead of 
a deer carved npon its larger end with bine beads for eyes. Another 
specimen from Sledge island is of ivory and shows signs of great 
age. It is the only one of these objects showing mnch effoi-t at orna- 
mentation by etched figures; scattered over the surface a number of 
reindeer are represented. Plate xl, 2, from the Diomede ishmds, is 
of ivory and has two bears' heads rudely (carved on the larger end. 
Figure 7, rom Hotham inlet, is a beautiful S|)ecimen represiiuting a 
reindeer iu a recumbent ]iosition, with the legs folded beneath the body. 
Figure 8, from Kotzebue sound, is another fine carving, representing a 
reindeer lying down with the legs folded beneath the body; the horns 
are re])resented by two spikes of iron set in the head; the eyes were 
rej)resented by beads, which have been lost. Figure 10, from Point 
Hope, has tlie largi^r end rounded into a knob-like ternunation which 
is crossed along its upper edge by a series of incised grooves. Speci- 
mens similar iu form to tliat showu in figure G were found over a wide 
area and seem to be the most geueral type of tliese implements. 

Plate XL, 1, from Norton sound, made from deerhorn, and figun; 5, of 
wood, from the same locality, are somewhat similar iu form to straight- 
euers for arrowshafts, but are used for straightening and setting 
arrowpoiuts. 

liKAVKR-TOOTH TOOLS 

A tool made from the chisel-shape tooth of the beaver is used as a 
gouge for making the hollows for the fingers in throwingsticks, for 
cutting grooves, and for excavating hollows in fashioning boxes, masks, 
spoons, ami wooden dishes. The smooth back of the tooth is used also 
as a polishing instrument for finishing woodwork, and tlie carved outer 
edge serves for sharpening knives by rulibing it sharply along the 
blades. These tools are still in use, but to some extent they have been 
superseded by implements of steel and iron, since these metals have 
become more easily obtainable. Plate xxxviii, L'l, from Olialitmut, is 
a typical example of these implements, having a beaver tooth set iu a 
wooden handle and held firmly in place by a wrapping of rootlets. 

Figure 2."), .3, from Port Clarence, is a beaver tooth for sliarpening 
steel or iron knives, set in a short wooden haft witli a wrapping about 
the end. Figure 25, 2, from Norton sound, is a beaver-tooth knife 
sharpener, with a strip of tanned skin, about seven inclies in length, 



90 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. A.\N. 18 



fastened about the center for attaching it to the belt. Figure 25, 1, 
from Norton sound, is a similar implement, with a strip of skin lashed 
to the butt with a sinew cord for attaching it to a belt. 

Plate XXXVIII, 23, from the lower Yukon, is a double-end tool of this 
kind, having a tooth set in each extremity of the handle. 

lURCHlSABK tools; 



Implements for stripping bark from birch trees are used in Alaska 
wherever those trees are found. 
Plate xxxvm, 20, represents two of these tools from the lower 

Yukon; they are 
intended to be 
used together and 
are coupled by a 
rawhide cord. One 
of them has a 
short, knife-like 
blade, which xiro- 
jects a little more 
than half an inch 
from the handle 
and has two sharp 
points wliich are 
used to mark the 
outlines of the 
sheets of bark to 
be stripped from 
the tree; the han- 
dle consists of two 
pieces of spruce, 
between which the 
blade is inserted 
and is kept in 
jilace by strong 
wrappings of raw 
hide cord. The 
other implement is a long, knife-like piece of bone, on which the raveu 
totem is rudely cut. After the birch-bark has been scored by the lirst- 
described implement, the point of the other is inserted between the 
bark and the wood and forced around the trunk of the tree to separate 
and remove the bark. 

Plate xxxvm, 17, from the head of Norton sound, is a long bone knife 
for removing birch-bark from the tree. It is sharpened at the point 
and on one edge; the butt is heavily etched with zigzag patterns and 
with the raven totem mark. 




Fig. 25 — Ivnilc sharpeuers (yj). 



BUREAU IJF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG>' 



EU-.HTEENTH ANNUAL REl 




TNE FOURTH NATURAL SIZEi 




ONE-FIFTH NATURAL S.ZEi 



IVORY-WORKING TOOLS AND DRILL BOWS 



NELSONI CELTS, ADZES, AND FLAKING TOOLS 91 

STONE IMPLEMENTS 

Celts and axes of nephrite or other liard stone are fashioned by 
grinding into shape and sometimes by i>eckiug, and are linisiied by 
grindiug or friction with other stones. Knife blades, lanee points, and 
whetstones are also made from these substances in a similar manner. 
The stone celts, axes, and wedges are mounted on handles of wood and 
deerhorn and are very skilfully used by the Eskimo for hewing and 
surfacing logs and plauks, although at the present time they are being 
displaced by iron and steel tools obtained from white traders. In a 
l-((shim ou the lower Yukon a plank was seen that was made many 
years ago by use of a stone adz. It was 25 feet long and four or five 
inches thick. The surface bore so many marks made by the hacking of 




Fio. 20- Flint flak 



stone adzes that it looked as if it might have been cut by beavers. 
Flint knives, spearheads, and arrowpoints are made by flaking. The 
flakers are made of small, rod-like pieces of deerhorn, wood, or ivory, 
fastened into a slot at the end of a handle, usually of i\ory or deer- 
horn, with wrappings of sinew or rawhide cord. 

Figure 26, 3, represents one of these fluking implements from Kotze- 
bue souiul. Figure 26, 4, is another tlaker from the snme locality, with 
a handle made from fossil mammoth ivory. Figure 26 2, from ITotham 
inlet, and figure 26, 1, from Point Hope, represent flakers with similar 
handles. Figure 26, 5, from Kotzebue sound, has a handle of deerhorn. 

Formerly small fragments of flint were used for scraping down the 
surfaces of bone, ivory, or deerhorn articles in the course of manufac- 
ture, but for this purpose steel or iron implements arc now in commou 
iTse, and naturally produce nnudi more satisfactory results. 



92 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

I'late XXXIX, 14, from Norton sound, is a woodeuliaiKlle adz, with 
a deerliorii head in wliicli is fitted a ])oint of liard, greenisli-colored 
stone, gromid to a >sliarp edge. Plate xxxix, 10, also from Norton 
sound, is another wooden-handle adz, with a deerhorn head in which 
is fitted a small, greenstone point, with a smoothly ground edge. 
These two specimens are hafted in the style commonly employed before 
iron was brought to the country by tlie Russians. 

A considerable variety of stone blades or celts for use as adzes was 
obtained from points between the lower Kuskokwim and Kotzebue 
sound. 

I'late XXXIX, 12, from Sledge island, is a fine large celt of nephrite, 
measuring 9 inches in length, 3 inches in width, and an inch and a 
quarter in thickness; it is roughly (luadrate in cross section, and the 
point is smoothly beveled on both sides to a chisel-shape edge. Plate 
XXXIX, S, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a small adz blade of nephrite 
intended for setting into the bone or deerhorn head of the implement. 
Plate XXXIX, 3, from Cape Nome, is a pale, olive-greenish colored stone 
adz, having two grooves around its upper end to admit rawhide lash- 
ings, by means of which it can be attached directly to a haft. 

I'late XXXIX, 11, from the lower Kuskokwim, is a curiously shaped 
celt, partly ground and partly i>ecked into shape; the jioint is roughly 
flattened on one side and oval on the other. A groove is pecked 
around the upper part of the head, by means of which, with the 
shoulder lower down on the same face, the head is attached directly 
to the handle and secured by rawhide lashings. 

I'late XXXIX, 13, represents a celt from the lower Yukon, somewhat 
similar in style to the last specimen. Plate xxxix, 9, from the lower 
Yukon, is an adz head made from .slate. 

Figure 1 of the same plate is an adz handle from the lower Y'ukon, 
made from reindeer antler. It has been sawed from the lower end 
nearly to the head, and a piece of wood inserted for the purpose of 
enlarging the shaft and attbrding a better grip ibr the hand. Another 
piece of horn, having a slot in the lower end for the reception of a 
stone blade, is bound firmly to it by rawhide cords. 

On one of the ]>iomede islands a piece of nephrite was obtained from 
which ax heads had beeii cut. It was said to have been brought from the 
Kaviak peninsula. It measures 9j inches broad and 2i inches in thick- 
ness. The longest edge is smoothly polished and has a coarse groove 
down the center, showing where a roughed out celt has been detached. 

Nephrite is used largely for making whetstones; slate is also in com- 
mon use for this purpose, and other hard stones are occasionally 
entployed. A nephrite whetstone from Kotzebue sound (plate Lxv, 1) 
has a deep longitudinal groove on each side, terminating in a hole 
through which is passed a loop of sealskin for attaching the implement 
to the waist belt. 

Figure 2~>, 5, shows a smaller stone of siniilai' character from Unalak- 
lit. The specimen shown in figure 25, 4, was obtained on St Lawrence 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL, 




DRILLS, DRILL CAPS, AND CORDS one-fourth- 



NELSON] RECEPTACLES FOR TOOLS ;)3 

isIaDcl; it is made of slate, and is pierced at one end for the reception 
of a sinew cord. 

TOOL HA(tS and handles 

Large oblong bags or satchels made of skin are in common use 
among the Eskimo for holding tools and implements of all kinds, 
inclndiug arrow and spear points, and other odds and ends which may 
have been accumulated. They have slightly arched handles of ivory or 
bone stretched lengthwise across the open mouth. Pecidiarly sliai)ed, 
long, narrow wooden boxes are also used for the same purpose; these 
are often carved into a variety of forms with great ingenuity. 

One of these tool bags from OaiieDarliy is illustrated in plate XLI, 
7. It is made from the skin of four wolverine heads, with a bottom of 
tanned sealskin with the hair side turned inward. The walrus ivory 
handle, 17 inches in length, lias etched along its lower surface repre- 
sentations of thirty-four wolverine skins, and the ends aie carved to 
form heads of animals; the upi)er surface is plain, with the ex'ception 
of a groove in one side. 

Plate XLi, 2, is an ivory bag handle from Sledge island, which has 
etched on it the representation of eight tails of whales and nnnierons 
wolverine, fox, and wolf skins. 

Figure 4 of the Same plate, also ol' ivory, from Kotzebue sound, lias 
scalloped edges, and etched upon the convex surface are the outlines 
of whales and skins of wolverines and otters. Ou the convex side is 
represented a man pointing a gun at a bear, seven other bears, a man 
in a kaiak pursuing a whale, and another shooting waterfowl with a 
bow and arrow. 

Figure (> of this plate, from Kotzebue sound, has both surfaces (covered 
with etchings of the skins of various fur-bearing animals. 

Figure 5, from Point Hope, is a slender handle of deerhorn, having 
a series of etched ligure* of deer and men along one side and ferminat- 
iug in the head of a deer at one end and in a shar[) i)oint to represent 
the tail at the other. 

Figure L shows an ivory handle from llotham inlet, with the con- 
vex surface marked atone end with a representation of wolf skins, and 
along the entire length beyond these are a number of waterfowl in the 
act of swimming. 

Figure .'i, from Cape Xome, is another ivory bag handle, botii sur- 
faces of which are tilled with etchings representing occurreniu^s in tlie 
life of the Eskimo, including dragging home a seal, the pursuit of a 
whale, traveling with dog sledges, launching of unuaks, walrus hunt- 
ing, and other similar occupations. 

TOOL UOXES 

A tool box obtained at Cape Nome (number 4.">3Sr)) is 14 inches long, 
4.J high, and 5 wide. The ends are dovetailed into the sides, and the 
bottom is fastened on with wooden pegs. The lid, in which half a blue 
bead is inlaid, is attached by rawhide hinges and has a looii of lawhide 



94 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

aD(l a double end coid for tyins" it down. A ssplit in the cover has 
been neatly mended by means of tliiu strips of wlialebone passed 
tUrougl) lioles pierc-ed on opposite sides. A small scalloped rod of 
ivory forms a handle to the cover, held in place by a loop of rawhide 
passed through two holes at each end into corresponding holes in the 
cover and the ends knotted inside. 

Plate XLii, 10, represents a box from Sfuguuugnmut, oval in shape, 
rather truncated at the smaller end and beveled toward the center. 
One end is cari-ied upward in the form of a ueck, terminating in a gro- 
tesque human head, having a prominent nose and an incised cresceut- 
shape mouth with two pieces of white crockery inlaid at the corners to 
rei)resei]t labrets; the other end has a pair of seal's flippers, the entire 
design being intended to represent a mythical being, with the body of 
ai seal and a human head. It is painted in a bluish tint, except the 
head, which is black, and the incised lines that outline the flippers, 
which are red. The cover is slightly convex above and concave below, 
with a broad groove cut in its upper surface; it is hinged by two raw- 
hide cords, and a double-end cord is fastened in two places on the 
side and passed twice around the box and tied to hold the cover in 
place and to fasten it. 

Another box (number 36242) from Sfugunugumut is similar in outline 
to the latter, except that it lacks the head, and, like the preceding, the 
body of the box is fashioned from a single piece of wood. The exterior 
is i)ainted a dull red and has three grooves extending around it, which 
are colored black, and set in them at regular intervals are broad-head 
pegs of ivory, which are ornamented with a circle and dot. The interior 
of the box is divided into two compartments, unequal in size; the 
smaller, conical in shape, has been used for storing fragments of red 
ocher and other substances used as paints. The cover is hinged with 
rawhide and is fastened by a loop of rawhide which passes over a peg- 
in frout of the box. On the top of the cover is painted in black the 
figure of a curious mythical creature, so couveutionalized iu outline 
that it is ditticult to identify it. From marks on the inside of the cover 
it has evidently beeu used in cutting tobacco. 

Plate XLII, 4, from Askiiiuk, is a box, suboval in shape, flattened 
above and below and truncated at each end, cut from a single piece 
of wood. The interior is neatly excavated to about an inch in depth, 
leaving a ledge crossing from side to side about an inch inward from 
each end. The sides of the box are painted black while the top and the 
bottom are of a bluish tint. On each of the four surfaces a shallow 
groove extends from end to end; on the sides they are of equal width, 
but on the top and the bottom they are narrow in the middle, broad- 
ening gradually toward each end. These grooves are painted red. The 
cover is slightly convex without and concave within. On its inuer sur- 
face are painted in red and black a number of rude figures representing 
two sledges, men, and various beasts, among the most conspicuous of 
which are wolves and reindeer. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOOy 



FlilHTrrNTM ANNUA 




WOOD-WORKING TOOLS une-Fuurih 



NKLsoxi TOOL BOXES ;)5 

A box from Cape Vancouver (luimbor 'A73r,l) is Hatteued oval in out- 
line, with a seal's liead carved upon it, tlie eyes of which arc represented 
by a piece of marble on one side and a fragment of porcelain on the 
other; ivory pegs form the nostrils, and at tlie corners of the mouth 
are ivory pegs with beads set in tlic center to represent labrets. On 
the top and on each side of the head small blue beads are inserted. A 
groove painted black extemls around the sides of the box, m which 
seven ivory pegs are inserted. The cover is attached as usual by 
hinges of rawhide. The box is (!racked. and has been mended by raw- 
hide cords laced througli holes on each side of the tissure. A rawhide 
loop i)assing over a jteg set in the front of the box serves as a fastening. 

A box from Pastolik (plate XLir, 11) is made in three pieces, the 
bottom being fastened on with wooden pegs; it is rather tlattened oval 
in outline, and represents the body of a seal. The head is represented 
with the mouth open and with wooden pegs for teeth; the nostrils 
are marked by ivory pegs, and for the eyes are inlaid snuill oval 
pieces of ivoi-y with a hole in the center to represent the i)ui)il; the 
tiijipers are carved in relief on the sides and at the rear; the tail is 
represented on the upper surface of the box and forms a thumb piece 
for raising the cover. The cover is slightly convex without aud con- 
cave M'ithin, with a groove extending its entire length; a groove is 
also cut around the body of the seal, and another below it extends the 
whole length of the box. The surface is painted black, except the 
grooves and the interior of the mouth of the seal, whicii are red. 

The inside of the cover is decorated with figures in red and black, 
representing humarn beings and animals. On one side the thundcrbird 
is represented grasping a deer with one claw and a man in a kaiak 
with the other; on the opposite side the thundcrbird is seizing a whale 
with one claw and a seal with the other. One curious (igure represents 
a double-head wolf witli four legs and connected by a black line with 
the hand of a man. 

Another box from Pastolik (nuudjcr 3S739) is made from sei)arate 
pieces, the ends being mortised into the sides; wooden wedges are 
driven into the tenons to lasten them more iirndy in the slots; the 
bottom is attached by wooden pegs. On the inner surface of the lid 
are painted in red a number of figures of men ami animals, many of 
which are obscene. The outer surface is not colored, but is covered 
with neatly made i)arallel grooves extending lengthwise and following 
the outlines of the box. 

A box from Kaialigamut (number ;{7.">tj2) is made of wood, ami is 
oval at one end and truncated at the other; about an inch from the 
truncated end a crosspiece is inserted in slots on each side, wldch are 
cut narrow at the edges and flaring toward the inside, so that the 
edges of the crosspiece, which are cut in corresponding sliajye, hold 
the ends of the box firmly in ])Osition. Tlie sides are formed by one 
piece, which is bent to form the oval figure: the Itottom is attached by 
wooden pegs, and the cover is hinged witli rawhule. For lasteidng, a 



(JO THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.IS 

loop passes down over ;i ].ro,iecting pet;' on the bottom of the box. 
Following the outline of the box around the bottom, about one-third of 
an inch from the edge is i-ut a bead in strong relief, and around the 
sides extends a groove. The cover is carved to represent the flattened 
form of a seal with a large, broad head; the hind flippers are cut in 
relief; the eyes are represented by two small white buttons, and the 
nostrils by two white beads inlaid in the wood. The box is painted 
red, with the exception of the groove around the sides and the incisions 
outlining the flippers and the sides of the seal, which are black. The 
inside of the cover has a curious conventional design painted in black, 
intended as a private mark of the owner. 

Plate XLir, 0, is a long oval box from Anogogmut, cut from a single 
piece of wood and divided into two compartments of unequal size by 
leaving a partition at the smaller end when the interior was excavated. 
The cover is neatly fitted and is hinged by two rawhide cords, and the 




Fl(i. 27— WuodcD triulii-t b"X (J). 

fastening consists of a loop of rawhide tipped with a small ivory button, 
in which is a hole which fits over a bone peg. A groove is cut around 
the top and the bottom of the box about half an inch from the edge, and 
another passes around the center. The surface is painted red, with the 
exception of the grooves, which are black. In the center of the cover 
is set a round piece of white porcelain, and six smaller pieces are inlaid 
in one of the grooves. 

Figure 27 is u box from Anogogmut made from a single piece of wood, 
flattened oval in outline, slightly convex above and very strongly so on 
its lower surface. It is deeply excavated and has a neatly fitted cover 
held in position by two rawhide hinges and fastened by a loop of cord 
passed over a wooden peg on the lower edge of the box. On the upper 
surface of the cover the figure of a seal is carved in relief, having in the 
center of the back a grotesque semihuman face, also in relief, probably 
intended to represent the shade of the seal. The bottom of the box 
is carved in the form of a larger seal witli the flippers in relief and a 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLCGV 



EIGHTFFNTH ANNUAL REFuRT F'L. XXXIX 




WEDGES AND ADZES ONt-HFlH 



^■•"'o-'-i Toor. r.oxEs ()7 

dt'oply incised, crescoiitic mouth. Tlie eyes and tlie nostrils of the 
liirjrer seal and the eyes of the smaller seal are formed by the insertion 
of ivory pegs. Ivory pegs are also set around the edges of t he body of 
the seal on the cover. This is a very old box, and if it was ever paiiited 
the coloring has long since disapjieared. 

Another old box (nund)er .•?7.')r).J). from Askinuk. is oval in outline and 
has one end carved to represent the head of an animal. The nostrils 
are formed by blue beads, between which ])roJects an ivory j)eg. Oval 
pieces of bone serve for the eyes, with a slit in the center for the ])npil. 
The cover is an oblong strip of wood truncated at one end aud the other 
tapering to a projecting point, which serves as a thuiubpiece by which 
it can be raised. It is held in position by pegs at each end and l)v a 
thin strip of spruce rootlet passed through a hole on each side of the 
box. 

Plate XLii, 7, is a box from Sfugnnuguniut, composed of three jjieces 
of wood. The sides were formed by a strip bent and Joined on beveled 
edges at the emls. The bottom is slightly convex and is attached by 
wooden pegs. The cover is similar in outline, but one end extends 
n](ward and forms the head of a seal, the eyes of wlii(!h are of ivory, 
with small blue beads for tln^ ]>upils. Ivory pegs form the nostrils, 
and others are set at the corners of the month to represent labrets. 
Fore-tiippers are cut in relief on each side of the cover, the intention 
having been to represent a seal lying on its back. A groove extends 
around the side, in whi(di are set small ivory pegs, with a round hole 
in the center of each. Similar pegs ornament the surface of the cover, 
which has the usual rawhide hinges and loop passing over a peg in 
the front of the box for a fastening. 

From Kaialigamut is a box (number 37S(j;5|, cut from a single piece 
of wood, the interior excavated and the cover neatly lifted. It is in the 
form of a seal, the tail forming a thumbiiiece by whieli the cover can 
be raised. The mouth is incised, the nostrils are flattened s|)ots on tlu; 
muzzle, and both are painted r<'d. The eyes are represented by snnill 
ivory pegs. I'^stending along each side and the top of the cover is a 
long groove, broad in the center and mirrowing at each einl, on which 
are de])icted various figures of men and animals in black on the l)ack- 
gronud of red with which these grooves are painted. Tlu> body of the 
seal is colored a dull blue. Three black stripes extend from the crown 
along the sides. The center of the back and the outlines of the flippers 
are also lylack. 

Figure 28 is an oblong box from the lower Yukon. It is made from 
thin boards fastened together with wooden pins. On all the surfaces 
except the bottom, rows of ivory pegs are inserted. On the njiper sur 
face are two snuill rectangular doors exteinling across the box from 
side to side and opening into little shallow box like comi)artiiH'nts. 
They are hinged with strips of sealskin neatly seweil in place by chain 
stitches of spruce root, and fastened to them are pieces of rawhide, by 

l.S ETII 7 



98 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth ann 18 

wliicli tlioy can be r:iise(I. In the center, exteiuliiis' lengthwise, are 
two otlier doors, and on eacb side, Jnst below tlie upper edge, is another 
little door. A loop of cord extending over and tied across the middle 
of the box keeps all these doors shut. 

women's wobkboxes 

Small wooden boxes are used by the women for the safekeeping ol 
their needle eases, sinew and fiber thread, scraps of skein, earrings, 
l)ieces of coloring matter, and various other small articles used by them 
iu their work. 

Figure ;j. plate XLII, rei)re>ents one of these workboxes from Sfugu- 
nngunint. It is oval in outline, and the top and liottom are iu the shape 
of flattened, truncated (-ones, their thin bases renting ou the sides of the 
box. On the front and back, crossing the sides vertically, are inlaid flat 




strips of ivory, with a series of three circles and dots engraved upon 
tliera ; extending arouud the sides are a series of round, button-like pieces 
of ivory, their surfaces covered by a number of concentric circles with 
black centers. A hook-shape knob of ivory projects from the front, 
over which a rawhide looj) fastened to the cover is passed to keep the 
lid closed. A sleuiler ivory rod, four inches in length, having its upper 
surface etched with circle and dot patterns, forms a handle and is 
attached to the top of the cover by a rawhide cord at each end. 

Figure 5 of the same plate shows a box, from Ikogmut, made from a 
single i)iece of wood iu the shape of a seal lying on its back with the 
head and hind flippers turned upward; the fore-Hippers are also carved 
in relief on the surface. On the cover a flattened ivory rod is fastened 
■with pegs to the main i)art of the box. Ou the upper surface of the 
cover, iu the center of a broad circular groove in which ivory pegs are 



.NELSON] WOMEN'S WoIiKI'.OXI.S 91) 

set, is ii semihiinuiii face carved in relief: it bus ivory lahrets at each 
corner of tlie iiioiitli, and iulaid piccess of ivory rci)M'sciil tlie eyes. 

figure 9 of the i)late shows a box. from Sahotiiisky, cut from a siii<;lo 
piece of wood, llatteiied and slightly oval in outline, witli truncated 
ends. The form of a salmon is carved in relief on both the top and the 
bottom, aud a jjroove e.xtends alonu tlie sides. The cover is attached 
in the usual manner by rawhide liin.ues. and a cord is provided for 
fastenin};' it iu front. 

Another box from Sfu.uunugumut (number .">(i245) is made from a 
single piece of wood, oval in outline, truncated at one end, with a suidieu 
ledge around the upper edge to receive the cover, which is slightly 
convex and projects ai)ward at one end to form a thund) piece for rais- 
ing it. This projection is carved in the form of a cormorant's head, the 
eyes being represented by incised circles. 

Figure 8, plate XLii, from Kofuguiiugunuil. is a long, (piadrate, 
wooden box, the top, bottom, and sides of which are made from sepa 
rate jiieces, the edges of the cover and the bottom being beveled. It is 
fastened together with wooden i)egs, and tlie cover is attached as usual 
by rawhide hinges and fastened by a loop ])assing down over a project- 
ing peg in front. The bottom of the box is painted black around the 
edges aud crossed by black bars; the ends of the toj) and sides are 
painted red, and a broad, black band extends around the middle. 

Figure 2, plate xlii, from St Lawrence island, is a workbox, circular 
in form, made by bending a thin piece of spru(!e, three inches wide, so 
that the ends overlaj), and mv sewed together with strii)s of whalebone 
passed through slits pierced in both thicknesses of the beveled ends. 
The top and tiie bottom are truncated cones iu shape, (chamfered and 
fitted into grooves cut around the inner edges of the sides. A round 
hole in the top serves for i)Utting in an<l taking out small objects. 

Figure 1, i>late XLir, from Sledge island, is a box I iuciies high and 
■1:^^ inches square, maile of thin pieces of spruce smoothly finished. The 
bottom is attached by wooden pegs; the sides are neatly mortised 
together. The cover is hinged by two pieces of rawhide aiul is fast- 
ened in front by a doubleeud string passing through a rawhide loop 
pendent from the cover. The handle on the cover consists of two 
pieces of rawhide cord tied togetlier in the middle, the ends i)as.sed 
through holes and knotted inside, forming a loop about an inch and a 
half in length. The box is grooved around tlie top and the sides iu 
parallel lines; the outer grooves, i>ainted black, are broad and shallow, 
while those on the inside are narrower and red in color both on the cover 
and sides. On the center of the cover is a pointed oval groove, black 
iu color. The bottom of the box and a broad band around the sides are 
not painted. 

A circuhir box. from Sledge island (number 4."»(il).)), is seven inches 
high aud over nine inches in diameter, made from a strip of s])ruce 
bent until the beveled edges overlap, and sewed together with a double 



100 THE ESKIMO AHOrX BERING STRAIT |f,th. ann. 18 

row of stitching with spruce rootlet. The bottom is chamfered and 
fitted into a groove like the head of a barrel; the cover is slightly con- 
vex above and concave within; three parallel grooves cross the top at 
ecjual intervals, and two others, about an inch apart, extend around 
the edge. The body of the box has also a broad and a narrow groove 
near each edge. The cover is painted red and a band of this color 
extends around each edge of the box; the gTooves are all colored 
black. A cord loop, two inches in length, forms a handle for the cover, 
which is hinged with sinew cord and is fastened by two ends of a raw- 
hide cord which project through a hole in front of the box and pass 
through a loop pendent from the lid. 

Another box (number 17G081), from Sledge island, is oval in outline, 
but is contracted in the middle by means of a stout, sinew cord passed 
through holes on each side, forming a stout cross-stay. The sides are 
made of two pieces with the ends lapping, sewed together in the same 
manner as in the preceding specimen, and the bottom is similarly fitted 
into a groove by a chamfered edge. The cover is also hinged in the 
same manner and is provided with a similar fastening. A looped raw- 
hide handle, each end of which is divided into two parts, is passed 
through four holes and knotted on the underside. 

HAJJDLKS FOR WOBKIiOXES AND WATER BUCKETS 

Handles for women's workboxes and for water buckets are frequently 
made of ivory or of bone. They present a considerable variety of 
form and many of them are handsomely carved. A large number 
were obtained, of which the following specimens, ilhistrated in plate 
XLiii, present the ])riiu!)pal variations: 

Figure IC, from Norton sound, is a plain rod of ivory, nearly s(]uare 
in cross section. 

Figure 5, from Unalaklit, is a rod of ivory, suboval in cross section, 
with the upi^er surface etched in parallel lines extending obliquely 
from the middle of the toj) to the edge. 

Figure 11, from Sledge island, is a small, liat rod, broadened verti- 
cally at each end to be pierced for a cord. The upper surface is marked 
with raven totem signs and a simple etched i)attern. 

Figure 24, from Shaktolik, has the lower side scallojjed and the upper 
side etched coarselj^ with lines and points. 

Figure 10, from Norton sound, is slightly curved and has the upper 
portion covered with zigzag patterns. 

Figure -(i, from Cape Darby, is suboval in cross section and has 
across its upper surfa('e the figures of t(!n whales carved in relief. 

Figure 17, from Unalaklit, is a flattened ivory rod, carved at one end 
to represent the head of a seal, and with the figures of several whales 
etched upon its upper surface. 

Figure lo, from Norton sound, is nearly sipiare in cross section, 



NELSON] AVOKKliOX AM.) WATEK-IU'CKKT HANDLES 101 

scalloped along each side, and iir<)ove<l along the middle of the ui)))er 
surface; the ends terminate in the head of an anim;d which has been 
much worn by long use; the details arc conse(|ueiitly obliterated. 

Figure !), is a handle obtained by Mr I>. M. Turner from Norton sound. 
It is suboval in cross. section, and has in relief ah)ng its uijpcr surface 
the figures of thirty seal heads; on each side of the two holes in which 
the cord is fastened to attacli it to the box or Imcket is also carved in 
relief the figure of a right whale. 

Figure 11, from Cape Darby, is an ivory rod, suboval in ta-oss section, 
with the figures of seven right-whale tails projecting from one side. 
Specimen 4r)l.j7, from Sledge island, is a small rod, evidently used for 
a box cover, having along its ujijier edge, in an upright position, the 
figures of twelve whale-tails joined by their tips. 

Figure 12, from Point lIoi>e. is an ivory rod, oblong in cross section. 
Carved on one side of the middle is the i)roiecting figure of I lie tail of 
a riglit whale, and on the upper surf'a(!e are etched tlie liguies of two 
right whales and the tails of foni' others. 

Figure <>. from Kigiktaniiv, is a buclu't handle of ivory, strongly 
curved and liaviug in ridief along its upju'r surl'act; the figures of nine 
seal heads, several etched figures of seals with spears in their batdcs, 
rude figures representing otters, and a framework for storing objec-ts 
above ground. 

Figure 8, from I'oinr Ho])e, is a slc^nder i\ory rod. triangulai' in cross 
section, doubly scalloped along both sides, and ha\ing a sligjif liorder- 
iug pattern of et(dHHl lines. 

Figure 1, from Sledge island, is a bucket handle consisting of a flat, 
ivory rod about four inclies in length, with a neatly carved, five-link 
chain of ivory depending from a looi' iu each end. These chains ter- 
minate below with a carving, representing the head of a small seal. 
Through the flat sui'face near each eiul of the handle is a huge, round 
hole iu which fits, swivel like, a small, round rod of ivt)ry, terminating 
above in the figure of a seal's head, the eyes and ears of which are 
represented by a black substance inlaid iu the ivory, while the nu)uth 
and the nostrils are etched. The lower ends of these handle lods are 
pierced with holes for receiving the cords connecting them with the 
bucket. 

Figure 22, from Sledge island, is a heavy rod of ivory, suboval iu 
cross section, terminating in a ring in which hangs by anotlier ring 
the image of a riglit whale's tail about two inches in length. Ipon 
the middle of the up[>er surface are etched figures of two right whales, 
and across the rod, near each end, are carved in strong relief two 
other figures of right whales. This carving is remarkal)ly well done 
and is a very artistic ])iece of work. 

Figure 7, from Kigiktauik, is a jilain. slightly curved liaiulle of rein- 
deer horn, suboval in cross section. 

Figure 2, from St Midiael, is a handle of deerhorn. round in cross 



102 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth axn. 18 

section, nnd beiit at an obtuse angle in the center. It lias a shallow 
groove along its convex npper surface, iu which are a luiinber of small, 
round points. 

P'igure 4, from yunivalc island, is a rliin, curved piece of deerhorn 
with the ends rounded, and having a rounded protuberance in the sides 
at about one-third of the distance from each end. The upper surface 
has two i)arallel incised lines extending nearly its entire length, which 
are intersected at the widened i)oints by a series of concentric circles 
with holes through the center. 

Figure 2X from ('ai)e Prince of Wales, is a^ large, strong handle of 
wnlrus ivory, with a doubly serrated edge on one side but smooth on 
the other. Two parallel grooves extend along the up|>er surface; the 
lower surface is convex. 

I'^igure L'O, from the Diomedc islands, is a bar of walrus ivory. The 
ends are flattened, but the center is curved u])ward. Carved at each 
end is the figure of a polar bear in a standing position, looking 
outward. 

Figure 'M, obtained at St Michael by Mr. L. M.Turner, is a rounded 
bar of ivory, flattened on its lower surface and convex above, with a 
well-carved head of a polar bear, facing outward, ou each end. A large 
hole is pierced lengthwise through this handle to admit the ])assage of 
a cord for attaching it to a water bucket. 

Figure 18, from Unalaklit, is a flattened bar of ivory with the figure 
of a right whale, facing inward toward the center, carved in relief ui)on 
its upper surface at each end. In the back of each whale, near the 
tail, are two large, vertical holes for attaching the cord. 

Figure 1.5, from Cape I'rince of Wales, is a bar of walrus ivory, flat 
on the lower surface. On the upjier side two right whales, facing out- 
ward, are carved in relief on one end, and on the other end is tlie 
figure of a wolf. 

Figure 3, from Point Hope, is a small carving intended for a work- 
box handle, with a pair of .seals' heads, facing outward, in high relief 
on each end of the upper surface. Between these heads are deeply 
incised lines forming a simple i)attern. 

Figure 10, from St Michael, is a rod of ivory carved iu the form of 
a wolf, the legs being represented by the downward-projecting knobs, 
which are pierced for the attachment of cords. 

Figure 25, from the Diomede islands, is an ivory handle for a water 
bucket. It is a flat bar, S.^ inches long and li broad, having each end 
rounded and pierced with a hole three-quarters of an inch in diameter. 
In the center is another smaller round hole. In the holes at the ends 
are rounil pins, in which are holes with grooves below them at each side 
to admit the cords for attaching the handle to the bucket. The heads 
of the pins are carved to represent the heads, shoulders, and forelegs 
of white bears in an upright jiosition, facing inward toward the center. 
Inside the bears' heads, on the upper surface, near the hole in the center, 



NKi-'ioN] lurKKi- iiam)m;.s — nickulk-casks 103 

are farved in relief two ligiires of seals witli tlieir lieads faeiiig inwanl. 
The whole group represents two seals lying on the ice near tlieir hole 
and two polar bears risin;;- from the water at the ediif ol' thi' iee, elose 
to the seals. 

>Ei;i)ij;('AsKs 

The women have a sivo.it variety of cases for hohliiifi- their needles, 
ditferiug- widely in form and made from a diversity of materials, show- 
ing the remarkable ingenuity of these people in tlieir adaptation of 
oruameutal designs to ])ra(;tical i)nri>oses. 

In the country about the lower Yukon and soiitlnvard to the Knsko- 
kwim a favorite form of needle-ease is made from a section of tlie hollow 
wing bone of a goose or other large waterfowl, i)lugged at each end 
with wooden sto|ipers. one representing the head and the other the tail 
of a fish. The surfaces of these cases ai-e covered with a variety of 
incised patterns, as will be seen by the following ligiires comprising 
plate XLiv: 

Figure .'i"), from Ivushunuk, is one of these needle-cases, representing 
a fish. Figure •).'>, from ("ai)e Nancouver, and ligure .'il, from Sabotnisky, 
also represeut lishes and have tufts of seal hair inserted around the 
woodeu head and tail. 

Figure 3(i, from Kushumik, has the stopper c^arved in the shape of 
the head of a young white wliale. Figure .'iO, also from Kushiinnk, has 
a fiat stopi)er in one end and a round knob on the other. 

l^igure 38, from Norton sound, is an ivory tube in the Ibrm ol' a 
woman's leg, with etched lines to rejiresent the seams of the trousers. 

Figure 37, from Konigunugumnt, is made of wood, over which are 
jilaced five empty cartridge shells. The stopper is in the shajjc of a 
cormorant's bead. 

Figure 40, from Fnalaklit, is an o(-tagonal tube of ivory. 

Figure 30, from Hotham inlet, is a round, ivory tidje with a ligure 
of an Arctic hare iu strong relief on twoo))posite sides, near one end. 

Figure 3l', from St Michael, is an ivory tid)e, round at one end and 
broadened by a ridge on each side near the other. It has tlu; ra\eii 
totem etched upon it. 

Figure -IS. from Hualaklit, is a short, ivory tube plugged at one end 
and with blue beads inlaid around it. The surface is surrnundcd by 
zigzag etchings and raven totem marks. 

Figure 2'.), from Sledge island, has in relief on two sides the ligures 
of two white whales. 

Figure 45, from the lower Yukon, is a tube in the form of a woman 
standing with her arms held against her sides. 

Figure 40, from King island, is a round tube carved with two human 
figures, facing inward from each end. in a sitting position, with the 
elbows resting upon the knees and the hands folded under the chin. 
This is a fine i)iece of carving, and from Ihe fact that it has been much 
worn bv handling it is doubtless of great age. 



104 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.axn. 13 

Figure 31, from the lower Yukon, is a tube with the head of a wah-us 
ill relief on each of two sides near one end and the head of a seal oii 
the other end. 

Figure 28, from Kotzebue sound, is of ivory in the shape of a small 
flask (ilosed by a wooden stopper. The wooden bottom is held in place 
with wooden pegs. In relief on one side of the neck is the ligure of a 
right whale, and ou opposite sides are two bears. 

Needle-cases are sometimes used without stoppers, in whicli case a 
large curd of sealskin is i)assed through the center, which terminates 
in a hook of bone or ivoiy for lioldmg thimbles, or hung to it by small 
cords are various little pendent ornaments, which consist sometimes 
of the canine teeth of various animals, but are often small carvings 
representing arrowheads, buinan faces, miniature belt fasteners, and 
various animal forms. "When this style of needle-case is used the needles 
are thrust into the sealskin cord and are drawn into the case by pulling 
on the other end of the cord, and when needed can be withdrawn by a 
reverse movement. 

Figure I'o, obtained on Xortou sound by Mr L. M. Turner, is a good 
example of this style of needle-case with sealskin needle holder. 

Figure 20, from St Michael, is a small, neatly carved needle-case pend- 
ant representing a reindeer's foot. 

Figures 22, 23, and 27 rei)resent a number of these small pendants, 
all of which were obtained at Kushunuk. The last mentioned is in the 
form of a frog with a large head but without the fore-limbs. 

women's "housewives" 

The little cases or bags for materials used in sewing and for other 
articles for women's work, commonly called "housewives," are in general 
use among the western Eskimo. They are made from skins of various 
kinds and embellished with needlework in ornamental patterns. The 
lower end terminates usually in a bag and the upper end is rounded; 
to the latter a rawhide cord is attached, having at its end a slender 
cross-piece of bone, ivory, or deerhoru from three to eight inches in 
length, which is generally carved into various designs with the inge- 
nuity characteristic of these people. When not in use the "housewife" 
is rolled up, the cord is wound several times around it and fastened by 
thrusting one end of the cross-piece under the cord. 

A specimen of these housewives from Kaialigamut (number 37918) 
is made from the skin of reindeer ears and pieces of skin from other 
parts of the same animal. The upper end is rounded and trimmed with 
stripes of white, black, and russet leather parallel to the curved edge, 
the seams being sewed in black and white. The lower end terminates 
in a bag, the inner surface of which is divided into square sections by 
double rows of stitching, along which are i)ainted bordering red lines. 
Along the outer edges is a narrow strip of white reindeer fur succeeded 
by a little strii> of i)lucked beaver, outside of which is a coarse fringe 
made from little strips from the edge of the skin of reindeer ears. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. 




5UCKET AND BOX HANDLES .ABuUT uNE-PuuRTH 



NELSON] WOMKX'S "ilOl'SKWIVE.s" 1 ( )5 

Plate XLY, 14, fVoin the lower Yukon, is ji small liouscwil'e covered on 
the inside with ornamental i)atterns of red, white, and black. It con- 
tains three pockets, and is bordered witii a narrow strip of nuiskiat 
skin; the back is made of lishskin. 

Plate XLV, 32, from the lower Yukon, is a i)iece of lishskin intended to 
Ibrm the outer ends ofii large hoiisewil'e. It is sewed witli oiiiamcntal 
patterns, oval in outline on three sides and straight across the otlier, 
and bordered by a narrow fringe of sealskin. 

Plate XLY, 31, obtained on ^'nnivak island by Dr \V. IJ. J)all, is a 
good example of a housewife made from the skin of reindeer cars, 
bordered bj' a fringe of small strips of the same nmtcrial. The sides 
have a border of white reindeer skin, surroundtMl by a narrow strip of 
sealskin and mink fur around its ujiper edge. The interioi- is divided 
into ([uadrate spaces by i)aiallel seams (jf black and white and rows of 
small beads. At intervals around the outer edges are little tags of red 
worsted. The string for fastening is covered with beads. 

Plate XLV, 15, shows a specimen from Hig lake, with a central band 
of deerskin about an inch and a half wide by ten inches long, bordered 
along each side with skins from six reindeer ears sewed together along 
the sides. On one end is a. semilunar piece of skin, having its front 
covered with rows of beads and an oi'nanu'utal i)attern of white and 
reddish sealskin, sewed with sinew thread and strips of white (juills. 
The inside is crossed by parallel rows of stitching with rcd-i)aiiiled 
border lines: the inclosed areas are not colored, but are adorned with 
small clusters of beads in tlieir centers. 

A large number of the fastening rods were obtained. The following, 
figured in plate XLV, illustrate a few of ttie variations in form and 
outline : 

Figure '-Q, froni Nunivak island, and tigure 3(1, from Big lake, show 
two fastening rods in the shape of salmon. 

Figure 27, from Konigunngumut, and tigure 2.s, from Agiukchugu- 
mut, are also fish like in form. 

Figure 24, from Ukagamut, is a neatly carved rod in two sections, 
united by a cross bar. On one side is represented a whitt; whale, and 
on the otlier a seal, the figures being very much elongated and slit 
through the batdcs. 

Figure 20, from Nulukhtulogumut, is a round fastening rod, repre- 
senting a seal; it has an eye at the lower (snd for attaching the cord. 

Figure 2.") shows a rod tiom Big lake which terminates in the head 
and tail of a wolf, the legs of the animal being rejireseuted by etched 
lines on the surface. 

Figure 17, from the lower Yukon, is a small, rod-like piece of ivory 
with a grotesque head at each end, one side apparently rciiresenting 
that of a bird and the other that of some ot her creature. 

Figure 13, from Chalitmut, is a handsome, fiat, ivory rod, having on 
one side at each end the figure of a seal carvcil in relief, and in the cen- 
ter the head of a man surrounded by a raised border wilh ray-bke, 



lOG THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

etclit'd lines extending out from it, evidently intended to represent a 
hood with a fur border. On the other side is the face of a womau with 
tattooed lines on tlie chin and a siinihxr indication of a fur hood, aud 
also two seals in relief. 

P^igure 21, from Big lake, is a round, slender rod terminating in the 
head of an unknown, animal. 

Figure 1-', from the lower Yukon, is a slender rod having an eye at 
the lower end for the attaehmenliof a cord, aud is composed of a series 
of oval sections divided by grooves and raised headings. 

Figure IS, from the lower Yukon, is another round rod surrounded 
by grooves aud headings. 

Figure 10, from Cape Nome, has an eye on one end for attaching the 
cord, and is sharpened at the other to serve as a bodkin. It is etched 
near its base with the raven totem. 

Figure IC>, from Xubviukhchugaluk, is triangular in cross sei'tiou 
and notched along two of the corners; on one side is etched the raven 
totem. This i)iece also terminates in a point for use as a bodkin. 

Figures 3 and 11 are both from Cape Vancouver, and have their 
ends flattened to serve as sole-creasers in making boots. 

Figure 8, from the lower Yukoji; figure -i, from Big lake; figure 7, 
from Chalitmut; figure 6, from Kushunuk, and figure 5, from Koni- 
gunugumut, are all double rods, divided along the middle but Joined 
near the outer ends. 

Figure 9, from Chalitmut, has two detached rods united by four 
round iron pegs or riv^ets, the two rods not touching anywhere along 
their length. 

Figure 20, from the Yukon; figure 1, from Sabotnisky; figure li>, 
from Konigunugumut, and figure 2, from Chalitmut, are variously orna- 
mented with lines and circles etched upon the surfa(!es. 

Figure 2:5, from Sfugunuguniut, is a round ivory rod, with a seal 
carved in relief on the upper side. 

Figure 22, from the lower Kuskokwini, is a fiattened image of a seal 
carved in ivory. 

NEEDLES AND liODKINS 

Formerly bone needles were used exclusively by the Eskimo, the 
holes for the stitches being pierced with a fine-pointed bodkin or awl 
of l)one, ivory, or deerlioru ; but since intercourse with white men has 
become more frequent they have obtained steel needles and pieces of 
iron, from which needles are made by themselves. Although uiauy 
bodkins are now pointed with iron, a great majority of those in use are 
still made from bone, ivory, or horn. 

Figures 1 and 2, plate xlviii a, from St Michael, are ivory needles 
used for sewing coarse seams in making boat covers or for similar 
heavy work. 

In the collection there is a small, flat, wooden tablet (number 4120'±), 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOI Onv 




THIMBLE GUARDS, NEEDLE-CASES, AND BOOT-SOLE GREASERS about oNt-Th 



NKLSONl NKKDIJ-.S AM) lioHKINS 1()7 

from Cape Daiby, four and one liall' inclics Imiu by tlir.f quarters of an 
inch wide and an eiiilitli of an ui.li thick, used for suppoi tin-:- a hone 
or an ivory needle wliile tiie eye is heinj;- i)iereed. The foMow injr speei- 
mens are shown in phite XLVi: 

Figure l."i, from Sabotnisiiy. is a sharji pointed bodkin, made from 
the wiugboue of a large bird. 

Figure 13, from Kushunuk. is another bodkin, nnide from tlie hollow 
wing-bone of a bird. It has a neatly made wooden iiead. inserted like 
a plug' in its upper enil. 

Figure 1, from St JMichael, is of deerliorn, the upper end in the 
form of a hunniu figure, with a face rei>resented on both sides. A 
stick passing through a hole in the body and projecting on either side 
forms the arms. The lower end is rounded and grooved, with a hollow 
at the tip, in which is fitted a slender, tapering point of deerliorn that 
can be removed and replaced at will. Tliis is the oidy imi>lement of 
its kind that was seen. It is fashioned alter iron-pointed tools tised 
for a similar pur])ose. 

Figure 14, IVom Kazbinsky, is a slender, tapering bodkin of ivory, 
having its upper end cut into the form of a lish-head. 

Figure 9, from Cajie I'rince of Wales, terminates in a link, by which 
is attached a loose piece cut in the form of a bird-head. Little tufts 
of seal hair are inserted in holes around the ui)per end of the handle 
and in the bird head, held in i)lace by means of wooden pegs. 

l'"igure 8, from Big lake, is made of i\'orv: it has two links in its 
upper end, and the top is carved to repi'esent a fish head. 

Figure 11, from Oajie V^aiu-ouver, is triangular in cross section and 
has little strings of beads attached to the handle, the toji of whic-h is 
surmounted by a knob. 

Figure 10, from Askinuk, is terminated by a link with a ]iendaiit in 
■which blue beads are set. 

Figure 12, from Cape Prin<^e of Wales, is triangular in tiioss section, 
witli the upper end neatly cut itito the form of a I'eindeer head. 

Figure 7, from the Kuskokwim, is a handsome ivory bodkin termi- 
nating in three links, with the hind Hii)i)ers of a seal iieudent from the 
toi). 

Figure 4, from Chalitmut, has an iron point and a handle of walrus 
ivory terminating in two links, the top one in the form of a fish-tail. 

Figure 2, from Cape Vancouver, is a long iron point with a handle 
of walrus ivory in the form of a salmon, along the body of which aie 
set little tufts of seal hair. 

Figure (i, from the lower Yukon, is an iron pointed l)odkin with a 
wooden handle and a little wooden sheath for slipping over the point. 

Figure Ki, also from the lower Y'ukon. is a si>ecimen of the larger 
bodkins or awls used for piercing heavy skins employed in making 
kaiaks aiul for other similar work. 

Figure .">, from Xulukhtulogumut. is a strong iron implement with 
an ivory handle fashioned in the shape of a seal. 



lOH THE ESKIMO AliOUT BERING STRAIT [eth'anx. 18 

I'ignrc 5, fmm Clialitiiuit. lias an ivory liaiidle teiuiiiiatiug in two 
knobs, one above tlie othei\ and separated by a projeeting beading. 

BOOT-SOLE CREASERS 

For crimping or creasing tlie sealskin soles of boots around tbe toe 
and heel, small, sbarp-edged, Hat-poiuted pieces of ivory or bone are 
used. Sometimes these are knife like in shape, as in figure 49, plate 
XLiv, from Siedge i-slaud, or are smooth, ])hiin pieces like the specimen 
sliown in figure 4.'' of tlie same x>late, which was obtained l)y Doctor 
IJall from Nunivak island. 

Figure 47 of the jilate referred to represents a creaser in the form of 
a walrus; the head and tusks are carved, and the tiippers and certain 
other anatomical details are etched on the back of the implement. 
This specimen is also from Nuuivak island. 

L'late XLIV, 42, from Point Uoi)e, is an elaborate boot creaser of this 
kind, to the upper end of which, attached by a link, is a carving repre- 
senting the head of a white bear. Tlie body of the implement is sinuous 
nearly to the end where it is llatteued to a wedge shape. 



Fl.i. 20— P,untsi)le cri'aaer (full size)^ 

Flato XLIV, 41, from Kotzebue sound, is a creaser made from ivory 
in the form of a, knife, with a pendant attached by a link to the butt. 

l'late XLIV, 50, from Cape I'rince of Wales, is a creaser with a link 
at one end, to which is attached a short bodkin. 

Plate XLIV, 51, from Kotzebue souud, is a creaser made by shaping- 
down the small end of a piece of bone. 

The accompanying figure 29 is an ivory boot-sole creaser from Nush- 
agak; it is triangular in cross-section, with ])ictures etched on the three 
sides. The side represented shows a house with smoke issuing from 
the smoke hole, an elevated storehouse to the left, and some people 
approaching with a loaded sledge from the right. 

Plate XLIV, 44, from Xnnivak island, is a creaser in the form of a 
murre's head. 

women's KNIVES 

The knives used by Eskimo women for skinning and cutting up 
game and fish vary considerably in form. Some consist simply of a 
broad piece of slate, roughly crescentic in shape, with the curved side 
ground to a thin edge. 

Figure S, jilate xlvii, from Kazbinsky, represents one of these rough 
slate knives. 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNO 



^.H7E f MH ANNIUAL HEPORT PL. XLV 




HOUSEWIVES AND FASTENINGS oNE-HfrH 



NELSONI KXIVKS AND THIMBLES 109 

Fig-ure (i, plate XLVii, from Kusluimik, is a small knife made of slate 
set in a slot in the end of an oval wooden handle. 

Figure 7, phite xi.vii, iVoni the lower Yukon, is nuide of a line-grain 
stone very similar in ai)i)earance to slate, set into a wooden liaTidle. 
This specimen is more neatly nnuh' than is usually the ease with these 
implements. 

Figure 5, i)late XLVII, from tlie lower Yukon, is a rough piece of slate 
set in a rudely made wooden handle. 

Figure 9, plate xlvii, trom the lower Y'ukon, is a slate knife attached 
to a wooden handle by means of a rawhide cord passed through a hole 
ill the back. It has a sheath made from two jiieces of wood fastened 
together with a rawhide cord. 

Figure It), plate xlvii, from St .Michael, is a long slate blade litted 
iuto a slot in the end of a wooden handle and bound in place with a 
lashiug of untanned sealskin. 

Figure -1, plate xlvii. from IvonigunuguTiiut, is a specimen of the 
iron-blade knives which, since the introduction of iron into Alaska, are 
gradually displacing the old stone and slate imiileuH'nts. It is set in a 
neatly made wooden handle. 

Figure 1, plate xlvii, from Sfugunugumut. is another iron-blade 
knife with a solid ivory handle. 

Specimens of wooden-haiulle knives, similar in character lo those 
froiu the American coast, were obtaiiu'd on St Lawrence island, but 
they show the ciistonuiry rude workmanship of that district. 

■|'IIIMBLi;S AND TIiniULi; IIULUKIIS 

Thimbles for women are made usually from small, oval pieces of tough 
sealskin, having a slit extending across one edge, forming a looi>-like 
strap, through which the forefinger is thrust, so that the strai) rests 
across the nail and the pad of skin in the inner side of the linger (see 
figurQ^20, plate xliv, from Xnbviukhchugaluk). Some of the women 
use metal thimbles obtained from the traders, which are also imitated 
in ivory by themselves, but most of the women prefer the old-fashioned 
sealskin thimbles. 

Figure 21, plate xi.iv, frenii Chalitmut, is one of thesis ivory thimbles 
made forest like a cap <iver the end of the finger; the back is cut away 
except for a stra]) (»■ band across the inner border. In form this is a 
combination of the metal tliiinblo of the white jieoplc and the old 
style made from a piece of sealskin. 

Sealskin thimbles are carried usually on a holder or guard attached 
to the end of a cord, which is either fasteiu-d to the workbag or forms 
a pendant to the straj) of the needle-case. These holders vary greatly 
in form, but are most fre(iuently of hook shape. 

Figure 1, plate xliv, from St Michael, is a thinilile holder made from 
a plain piecte of bone from the leg of a bird: it is the rudest and 
simplest form of this article. 



110 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. ann. 18 

Fijiure 24, plate xliv, also from St Michael, is in the torin of a 
double cresceut, with a hole in the middle over which the thimble is 
slipped and retained in place by the crescent-shape bar. 

Figure 14, plate xliv, from Xorton bay, is a plain, hook-like holder. 

Figure 19, plate XLIV, from Kotzebue sound; tigure IS, from Ilotham 
inlet, and tigure 17, from Point Hope, are all made from ivory and rep- 
resent different forms of this little implement. 

Figure 2, idate xliv, from St Lawrence island, is a rude hook made 
from a walrus tooth. I'igure 4, from Kushunuk, is a rather rudely 
made hook of deerhorn. Figure 3 is another deerhorn hook from the 
same locality as the last. Figure 7, from Nunivak island, is a hook 
made from walrus ivory in the form of a salmon. 

Figures 5, 8, 9, 10, and 13, of plate xliv, represent various forms of 
this implement made from ivory. All are from Kushunuk. 

Figure 11, plate xliv, from Nubviukhcliugaluk, and tigure 12, of the 
same plate, are ivory hook-shape holders from Kotzebue sound. 

Figure 15, plate xliv, from Unalaklit, is a hook-shape holder having 
a leather band which slijjs down over the hook, holding it closed and 
preventing the thimble from dropi)ing off. 

Figure G, plate xliv, from Jvushunuk. is a specimen which has a 
wrapping of sjiruce rootlets around the shank and inside the slot 
which forms the hook to keep the thimble in place. 

Figure IG, plate xliv, is a double thimble guard of ivory from I'oint 
Hope. 

implements for making THREAD AND CORD 

Thread for sewing clothing or other small articles is made of sinew 
from the legs of reindeer, dried and beaten with a maul to loosen the 
fibers, which are then divided and cleaned. From the Kuskokwim 
northward to Kotzebue sound and the islands of Bering strait, small 
comb-like implements with from two to four teeth are in use for this 
purpose. On the lower Yukon a species of tough grass is obtained and 
utilized for making thread and for other purposes. After being dried 
and beaten it is hatcheled with the combs which are used for making 
thread from sinew. Cords are made in different ways and of various 
materials, according to the uses for which they are intended. The 
kind most commonly in use is made from tanned sealskin, which 
is trimmed to an oval shape, from which a continuons strip is cut. 
Sometimes an entire skin is made into an unbroken cord. For heavier 
(;ords the skin of the walrus is utilized. Tanned reindeer skins are 
also cut into thongs, and sinews of reindeer and seals are twisted into 
cords of various sizes. On the lower Yukon and in the interior ter- 
ritory occupied by the Eskimo, cord is made from the inner bark of the 
willow. Strips of whalebone are also frequently employed for lashings 
on sledges, boats, and various implements. 

Figure 5, plate XLViiia, from Norton sound, represents one of the 
combs used in making thread from sinew. 

Figure C, plate XLViii«, from the Dioinede islands, is a comb or sinew 



3UREAM OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT FL. XLVI 




BODKINS ONE-THIRDi 



•'^Ei.s<.Nl THKKAI) AND fOKD IMI'M-MKNTS \\l 

shictUlcr ..(• walnis ivory, with lour iar-e. coars.- troth aiul a narrow 
haii(Uf. 

Fi-iire 1, phite XLVui „. tVoin ShMl-e island, is a thrce-tootlu.! sinew 
shredder with a rtattencd knob like blade at the end of th(^ handle 

Figures, plate XLyiu«, from Cape Nome, is a .small. Hat piece of 
deerhoni with three Hat teeth on one end. and figure 2, i)late XLViii a 
from Sledge island, i.s a similar implement made of ivorv. 

Figure 4, plate XLViu«, from Cape Darby, i.s a toothed ivory imi.le- 
meut of this kind, one tooth being attaehed to tiie side of the main 
piece by means of a strong wrai)))ing of willow root. 

Figures 7 and 0, plate XLViii a, from the lower Yukon; ligure s, from 
Mission, and tigure 10, from Sabotnisky. are specimens of comb.s which 
have beeu used in making grass tiiread. 

The accompanying ligure .U), from Sledge island, represents some of 
the implements used tor twisting sinew cords. .V full set consists of 
two tlattened ivory rods with a .small knob or head at each end, and 
four bodkin-like ivory rods each with the tigure of a dcerhead at the 
ui)per end. The.se implements aic all i)ieicc(l with holes and straii"- 



fel 



FlB.SO-SiiiowtwisUTs (1.). 

on a rawhide conl in order tliat they may coiiveiiieiiily be carried and 
not readily mislaid. 

Figure 8, plate XLViii^, from Cape N'ancouver, and ligure ."> of the 
same plate, from Nuuivak island, represent reels on which thread is 
wound. They are sometimes used also as .shuttles in making small 
meshed nets. 

Figures 4 and C, plate XLVIII //. from Nunivak island, arc specimens 
of thread reels carved to represent mythical beings, half woman and 
half seal, with the hands held against the .sides of the faces. 

Figures 3 and 7. plate XLVin/>, from the .same island, are ivory reels 
carved to represent seals. 

Figure 31 represents a sinew cord spinner from St Lawrence island. 
This object is made of ivory and consists of three ])arts: these arc a 
quadrate base for holding in the hand, and ])ierceil in the middle of 
the outer surface for the insertion of one end of a slender rod having a 
knob at its other end. A tlattened rod is jiierced near one end and 
slii)])ed upon the firstnanied rod, upon which it revolves. The sinew 
to be .spun is attached to the tlattened rod at the shoulder. Just below 
the hole, and by a rapid circular motion of the hand tlie llatlened rod 
is caused to revolve rapidly, giving (he desired twisting to the cord. 



"112 



THE ESKIMO AHOCT BERING STRAIT 



Xo implements of tliis kind were seen among the Eskimo elsewhere 
in tlie region visited, and it is quite possible tbat the St Lawrence 
islanders obtained tlie idea from some of the whaling ships which stop 
so frequently along their shore. 




Fui. 31— Siiuu j-ipjuiier Hum Si L;nvnni-e islauil. 



SKIN-DRESSIN(^ TOOLS 

For dressing and tanning skins several different implements are 
used, the most important of which are scrapers for cleaning the fat and 
water from the surface, and polishers for the purpose of softening the 
hide. From the lower Kuskokwim to the northern part of Norton 
sound and the coast of Jtering strait, stone-blade scrapers with long 
handles are the prevailing style, although on the coast and islands of 
IJering strait a short-handle scraper is frequently seen, while from 
Kotzebue sound northward they are all of the latter type, with the 
handle made to fit the hand and elaborately carved. 

Plate XLix, 17, from Big lake, represents one of these scrapers of 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG 



Cir.HTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XLV 




FISH AND SKINNING KNIVES IONE-Third 



""•'■'^o''] SKIN-DRKSSING TOOLS 113 

bard, green schistose ground to a crcseentic edge, fitted to ;i wooden 
handle eleven inches in length, whicli extends downward, overlapping 
about one-half the length of the blade, and lield in place l)y a nnvhide 
lashing which is prevented from slipi)iiig by a ridge along the lower 
edge of the wood. Tlie upper i)art of the liaudle is bent downward 
for convenience in grasping. 

Plate XLix, 1!), from the lower Yukon, is a slate scraper similar in 
design to the last, with a wooden handle attached by a lashing of 
spruce root, the upper part bent downward nearly to a right angle. 

Plate XLIX, 20, from ^■ubviukllchugahlk, is a scraper consisting of a 
chisel-shape blade inserted in a broad wooden handle which overlaps 
the upper part and is held in ]>osition by a lashing of spruce root. Oa 
the npper surface of the handle is a groove to receive the forefinger, 
ou tlio inner side is another groove to receive the thumb, and two 
grooves on the under surface of the downwanl-tuincd end of the handle 
admit the remaining three fingers. 

Plate XLIX, 15, from the lower Yukon, is a short scraper witli a 
wooden handle curved downward to a i)istol-like grip, and a heavy 
blade of black chert ground to a chisel-shape edge, titted to the handle 
with an intervening pad of grass. The blade is held in position by 
means of a strong lashing of sjjruceroot. 

Plate XLIX, 12, from the lowan- Yukon, has a broad, flattened blade of 
slate, chisel-shape at the edge, with an overlapi)ing wooden handle 
held in i)lace by a spruce-root lashing. The handle is bent downward 
to form the grip. 

I'late XLIX, IS, from Norton sound, has a large, slate blade witii a 
rounded, chisel-shape edge. It is titted into a groove in the wooden 
handle, which is held securely in place by a rawhide lashing. The 
handle is broad near the blade and narrows gradually to a rounded 
grip, which is bent abruptly downward; a groove extends along the 
upper surface, and others, on two sides, below tlie grip, form a rest for 
the Ibrefinger and the thumb. 

Plate XLIX, 10, from Sledge island, has a Hat blade of slate with a 
rounded edge fitted against a shoulder on the lower surface of the 
overlapping wooden handle, which has a i)ro.jecting spur Just above the 
grip, intended to rest between the thumb and the forefinger when the 
implement is iu use. 

Plate XLIX, 13, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a small scraper with a 
Hat, chisel-like blade of black slate, held in position against The short 
oval wooden handle by a rawhide cord. Another scrapei- from Caiie 
Prince of Wales (number IJUor)) consists of a- rudely chipiied ilint blade, 
titted into a mortise in the rough wooden liandle and secured by a 
lashing of sinew. The npi)er end of the handle is bent downward and 
has two grooves on the lower surface to receive the second and third 
fingers. 

Plate XLIX, II, from Sledge island, has a thin, <liiselsliape blade of 
IS KTH S 



1]4 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

black sliite wt^lged into a slot in the wooden liandle, wliicli is broad 
near the socket and tapers gradually to the inrip, where it is enlarged 
(o form a broad oval to rest in the palm of the hand. A broad groove 
nnis down the front of the handle, and the sides are flattened to form 
rests for the thumb and the foretinger. 

Plate XLTX, 7, from Kotzebue sound, is a short handle for a scraper, 
made of fossil mammoth ivory, with a slit in its lower end for the 
insertion of a flint blade. It is hollowed on the lower side of the bent 
ni)])er portion to receive the thumb. On the outer surface are two 
grooves for the second and third tingers. The flrst tinger is intended to 
rest at the base of the blade. 

Plate XLix, 8, from Kowak river, has a chisel-point, chi])ped flint 
blade, inserted in a plain handle of fossil mammoth ivory. Another 
specimen (number 4B()L'7), from Kotzebue sound, has a chipped flint 
blade inserted into a slot in the mammoth ivory handle, which has a 
groove on the inside for a thumb rest and two on the upper surface for 
the first and second tingers. A deep slot on the under surface is 
intended to receive the third and fourth fingers. 

Plate XLIX, 14, from Hotham inlet, is a wooden handle larger than 
that last described, but grooved in the same manner to receive the 
fingers. 

Plate XLIX, 'A, also from Hotham iidet, is a short handle of mam- 
moth ivory, with a slot for the insertion of a flint blade. The back of 
the handle forms a flaring edge intended, when in use, to rest on the 
under surface of the hand near the base of the thumb, while the first 
and second fingers are placed in a deep groove in front and the third 
and fourth tingers lie in a deep excavation on the under surface. 

Plate XLIX, L', from Point Hope, is a handle made from fossil mam- 
moth ivory, with a deep groove on the inside for receiving the thumb, 
two grooves on the upper surface for the first and second fingers, and 
an excavation on the lower surface for the third and fourth fingers. 

Plate XLIX, 4, from Point Hope, is a scraper consisting of a small flint 
blade iitted into a handle of mammoth ivory. On the inside is a shal- 
low depression for the reception of the thumb, and another above for 
the first and second fingers; a deep slot across the lower surface is for 
the third and fourth tingers. 

Plate XLIX, 0, from Point Hope, has a blade of brown flint in a wooden 
handle, which has a deej) slot for the thumb on the inner side, two 
grooves for the first and second tingers on the ui)per surface, and a 
deep excavation below for the third and fourth tingers. 

Plate XLIX, (J, from Point Hope, is a very curious specimen, roughly 
triangular in shajje; the chipped flint blade is fitted into a groove in a 
wooden handle, which has a large l;)Iue bead inlaid on the upper part; 
on the inside is a deep slot for the reception of the point of the thumb; 
along the front of the top is a deep excavation bordeied above by three 
groo\ es for the ends of three Augers, and on the outside a hollow for 
the little finger. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL RLroRT PL. XLVIII 




GRASS COMBS 




THREAD SHUTTLES AND NEELiLES 
THREAD AND CORD MAKING IMPLEMENTS .THREE-TENTHS) 



'"=''*"'''l SKIX-DRKS8ING TOOI,S 115 

Aiiotlier form of sciaixM-. used sixM-ially lor cleaiiiiij; the skins of 
birds and small mammals, is sonicwliat kiiifclikc in shape. I'late !...">. 
is a s])ecimen of tliis type of im])lement from Xunivak ishmd. It is 
made of deeilioiu witli a slislitly spooiishaiK' blade, and has incised 
parallel lines across tlie api)er side of the handle. 

riate L, (), from Bis' lake, is also of deerhorn. and is somewhat simi- 
lar in .shape to the jtreeediiis-. 

Plate L, ;>, from Ikoi;-mut, is of ivory. The edse is sharp and aeross 
the butt of the handle is a series of notches forming short teeth, which 
are used in cleaning fat, blood, and other matter from among the 
feathers or hair of the skins and for softening hard s])ots. On the 
lower side of the handle are four round projections, each pierced with 
a large hole, and on the back etched lines form a conventional pattern. 

Plate L, 2, Irom Norton sound, is another of these ivory knife like 
scrapers with a notched butt. 

Plate L, ir», from Jsorton .sound, is an ivory scraper generally similar 
in form to the preceding, but lacking the toothed lintt. 

Plate L, 1, from 8t Michael, is of ivory and has a nnnd)er of small 
knobs on the handle and a coarsely-toothed butt. 

Plate L, 4, from Cai)0 Prince of Wales, also of ivory, has a long, taper- 
ing blade and a toothed butt. It has four grooves on the lower side of 
the handle to form a grip for the fingers. 

Plate L, 9, from St Michael, is a ruder implement of this kind, semi- 
lunar ill sliajjo and with a tlat back. 

Plate L, 11, from Point Hope, is a tray-shape im|)lement about 4 
inches long and -'.4 inches wide, deeply excavated inside and with a 
sharp edge all around the exterior rim. It is used by placing the 
thumb inside with the fingers grasping the back and pressing either 
side or end against the skin. 

Plate L, 12, is a rudely made scraper from the Diomede islands. 

Plate L, 8, from Point Hope, is a scoop-slia|)e scraper made tVoin 
fossil mammoth ivory; the inside is slightly excavated and the lower 
edge is sharpened. It is used by placing it in tlni ])alm of the hand 
with the grooved cud resting against the inside of the fingers, the con- 
vex under surface against the palm, and pushing it from the ojjerator. 
This is the only implement of this kind that was seen, all the other 
scooj)-shai)e scrapers being used by drawing toward the person. 

Plate L, 7, from Sledge island, is a flat rod of deeihorn beveled to an 
edge on one side: each end is ])ierce(l with two holes in which a stri>ng 
rawhide cord is fastened, by which the ends are drawn toward each 
other until they form a horseshoe shape curve; it is used by gi-asping 
the cross cord and drawing the edge of the scraper along the skin 
toward the operator. 

Plate L, 18, from Kotzebue sound, is a .scraper ma<le from the shoulder- 
blade of some animal ; the butt is sawed down and shaped to .serve as a 
handle; the outer end is al.so cnl off and the thin lower portion cut to 
a straight edge. 



ik; 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



Plate L, 13, from Clialitnuit, is a deerlioru scraper with a well shaped 
upcurved handle, a blade foimed like an oblitpiely truncated half of a 
spool], and a shari)ened edge. 

Plate L, IG, from 81edge island, and figure 17, of the same plate, from 
the lower Yukon, are sections of deerhorn with one surface tiattened 
and cut to a sharp edge. 

Plate L, 11, obtained on St Lawrence island by Captain C. L. Hooper, 
is a crescent-shape piece of reindeer horn with a sharp edge, flat upon 
one side and beveled to three surfaces on the other, with a groove run- 
ning down the center of each. 

Plate L, 10, from St Lawrence island, is of ivory, dish-shaped, some- 
what oval in outline and nearly straight on the upper or thicker side ; the 
other side is curved and thinned down to a sharp edge. It is used by 
resting the thumb on the interior and grasping the back with the first 
and second fingers. 
Plate XLix, 1, obtained by Mr L. M. Turner at St Michael, is a rounded 

bo wider- like i)iece of 
granite about 5 inches in 
its longest diameter for 
rubbing and softening 
skins; the lower surface 
is smoothed and polished 
by use. 




SKIIS^ DRESSING 

Among the Eskimo it 
is customary for the men 
to dress the skins of large 
animals such as rein- 
deer, wolves, wolver- 
ines, bears, seals, and walrus, while the women prepare the skins 
of smaller creatures such as fawns, hares, muskrats, marmots, and 
waterfowl, and sometimes assist the men in the preparation of the 
larger skins. 

In dressing sealskins and walrus hides they are first scraped to free 
them from the adherent particles of tlesh and fat, then rolled into a 
bundle with the hair side inward and kept in the house or the kashim 
until they become sour and the hair loosens; small sealskins are some- 
times dipped in hot water to hasten the loosening of the hair; the hair 
is then scraped off and the skin is stretched on a wooden frame, made 
from sticks of driftwood (figure 32), by stout cords passed through 
slits around the edges and over the side bars of the frame, when they 
are again scraped and placed outside the house to dry. When dry 
they are removed from the frames and folded compactly into flat, oblong- 
packages (figure 33), for convenience in carrying or storing. If the 
skiu is to be tanned with the hair on, for use in making boots or 



ETHNOLOGY 



NNUAL REPORT PL. XLIX 




SKIN SCRAPERS •ONE-FOURTH' 



NELS"'"] SKIN DRKSSTNG |17 

clothing, it is soaked thoroughly in mine to reniovo the fat, tlien 
stretched, sciaped, and dried in tlie manner described. 

The beautifully white, i)archnientliiie leather used for IxK.ts and 
ornanieutal work is nuxde from small sealskins IVom which the hair has 
been removed. Tlie skin is then soaked in urine to free it from the oil, 
stretched upon the drying frame and exposed in the o[)en air during 
the coldest months of winter; the intense cold and the beating of the 
dry snow upon the surface of the skin bleaches it to a. satiny whiteness. 
A finer quality of white leather is obtaintid from the gullets of large 
seals and walrus treated in the same manner. The russet colored seal- 
skin, used for ornamental work, is made by washing the surface of tliis 
white, parchment-like leather with dye obtained from alder bark. 

The skin of the wolf-lish (AiinarricJuis /h/;».s), called ha-chil-lili'dc by 
the Eskimo, when stretched and dried makes a thin, blackish, parchment- 
like material, which is cut into narrow strips and frequently welted into 
the seams of boots and other articles of clothing, or used for other 
ornamental purposes. The white woolly skin of the new-born fur seal, 
after being tanned, is dyed a rich brown by an infusion of alder bark 
and cut into narrow strips for borders to 

garments or for making tassels for boots ....■'" -v--'v — , 

and frocks. 

To tan reindeer skin with the hair on, 
the tieshy side of the skin is wetted with 
urine; it is then rolled into a compact j / 

bundle, with the hair side outward, and '""\ __ j^ _ / 

liermitted to remain a few hours in the '^ — . i / 

warm kashim, after which it is unrolled ,, „ „,,,'.,,,. 
and any remaining fragments of sinew or 

Hesh are removed with a scraper. It is then drie<l and again thor- 
oughly scraped and hung up open in the kashim while a tin; is 
burning, and dried until it becomes hard and almost as brittle as 
pasteboard, when it is taken down and scraped carefully and lightly 
on the inner side. This breaks the grain of the leather and covers 
the epidermis at the roots of the hair with nund)erless little i-racks, 
rendering the skin very pliable. After this treatment the skin is 
scraped again more thoroughly, and boiled fish eggs, while still warm, 
are rubbed on the inner surface. It is then rolled u]) and i)ermitted to 
lie for a few hours, after which it is unrolled and worked ami rubbed 
between the hands until it becomes dry and soft; a linal scniping then 
removes any remaining roughness or adherent matter and completes 
the ])rocess of tanning. lieindeer skins tanned in this manner are 
beautifully white on the inside and the leather is as soft and iiliable as 
chamois skin. 

8mall skins are soaked in urine to remove the fat, after which they 
are stretched and worked witii the hands and finally rubbed with 
pieces of pumice until dry. friue is so much useil in tanning and for 



118 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

otlier purposes that every house is pro\ ided with one or more tubs iu 
which a coustiuitly renewed supply is kept. 

Marmot skins and the skins of niuskrats and birds are rubbed and 
worked in the hands, after which the women use their teeth to chew 
the harder parts to render them soft; they are theu stretched and 
dried and a slight wash of oil is applied to render them more pliable. 

The skins of salmon and losh are dressed and used for making bags, 
boots, mittens, and waterproof garments by the Eskimo of the lower 
Yukon. The intestines of seals, (deaued and intiated, are dried, and 
form a kind of translucent parchment, which is cut into strips and 
sewed to form the wateri)roof frocks worn by the men when at sea in 
the kaiaks or when out on laud in rainy weather. These garments 
will shed water for several hours. Coverings lor the smoke holes in 
roofs of houses and kashims are made of this material, which is used 
also for covering bedding during transportation or in open camps. 

The Eskimo who live away from the coast, lacking the sea animals, 
use the intestines of deer and bears for similar purposes. 

nrxTixci A>i) iii'XTi>c; impt^ements 

ANIMAL 1'KArS AND SNAKES 

Owing to the rapid extermination of reindeer in the neighborhood of 
the coast of Noi'tou sound, the natives depend on hunting the v'arious 
kinds of seals and on lishing for their main supply of food. Eor over a 
hundred miles along that coast, during my residence at St Michael, not 
a dozen reindeer were killed each year. Twenty years earlier reindeer 
were extremely numerous throughout the same district, but the intro- 
duction of firearms, after the Americans took possession of tlie country, 
I'esnlted in a wasteful slaughter by the natives, who soon succeeded in 
virtually exterminating these animals in the larger portion of the coast 
region. 

Before tiie introduction of firearms the Eskimo had various ingenious 
modes of capturing and killing deer. They were stalked in the usual 
manner by hunters, armed with bows and arrows, who approached the 
herds by creeping from one shelter to another until within bow shot. 
At other times two hunters went together, and when a herd of reindeer 
was seen one of the hunters walked immediately behind the other, so 
that their two bodies were in contact. Then, while keeping step as 
one man, they walked directly toward the herd. The deer would per 
mit them to come within a certain distance and then make <i wide cii- 
cuitforthe purposeof passing behind theadvaucing hunters; the man 
in the rear then took advantage of the first hollow or other shelter to 
throw himself on the ground and lie hidden while hig companion con- 
tinued onward, apparently without paying the slightest attention to 
the game; as a result the deer would circle in behind him, and while 
watching him were almost certain to run within bow shot of the con- 



3UREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



g"'.HTri:\rH .annual report pl. l 




SKIN-CLEANING TOOLS ^one-fourth 



TRAPS AM) 8NAlii;S 



119 



cealed buuter; when tliey were near ciioiioli ]„. «onl,l spHnu up ;,iiil 
(liscbarge bis arrows; tbis would distract llicir atlciition from tlic tirst 
iiiau, wbo in tbc meantime Iiad also conceaU'd iiimsoll'. In riiniiing to 
escape from tbe biiiiter wbo bad Just discbari;cd bis ariows, tlie <;aiiie 
would Crequently cin le witbin shot of tiie other man and become so 
confused as to run wildly hack and forth, a|ii)roacliinf;- each man in 
turn several times before Ihe survivors refjained their wits sutlicicntlv 
to make their escape. 

Another method was to dose the lower end of a rocky pass through 
which the deer were accustonied to travel, and then make a drive Iroin 
the open valley and inclose an entire herd at once, when they were 
killed with lances and arrows. Tbe peojile said that in cases of this 
kind they were accustomed to kill every deer thus inclosed, with- 
out regard to number, and that freciuently such large numbers were 
killed that they were nnabie to utilize them, and thev were left where 
they fell. 

Deer were also snared with strong nooses of rawhide, which were 
tied to stout bushes and held oi)en by light strings of grass or sinew con- 
necting tbeui with other bushes, or with snnill 
stakes planted in tbe ground. In feeding, the 
deer would entang'e tLeir antlers or thrust in 
their heads, so that they were held or strangled 
by tbe nooses closing around their necks. 

Another method practiced by the young men 
iu early summer, when the fawns were born, was 
to look for them, and when a fawn only a few 
days old was found they would run it down. 
The hunters considered this s])ort to be a great 
test of agility and endurance, for insteail of i „,. ;u_m...i.i ..i ad.,, 
shooting the fawn with arrows, as might readily ""•'"■ 

Uave been done, it was a matter of i)ride. to i)U)sue the animal until 
it became so tired and its feet so Iciuler that it stopjied and ])crmittcd 
itself to be captured. 

At the time of my visit to I'oint Uarrow in bSSl, reiinleer were still 
common in the low mountains to the soulh and southeast of that i)lace, 
but it had become very easy to obtain brta'ch loading guns and ammu- 
nition from the whalers, and the people were destroying the deer veiy 
rapidly. One old man and his son, it was claimed, had nearly five 
hundred skins in storage, and others had an abunilaiu-e of them. 

Dall's sheeii were also killed in large numbers by these (leople and 
by the Kskinio of Kowak river, judging from the number of skins seen 
among them. 

Figure 34 shows a mddel of a deer siiaie from the lower Yukon: it 
consists of two straight sticks, to the larger of which the end of the 
snare is firmly attached, whih' the outer side of the loop is lightly held 
by a smaller stick which ser\ es to kee|) the snare in place. 




120 THE ESKIMO AlioUT BERING STRAIT Iethann. 18 

This method of snaring deer is illustrated in figure 35, which repre- 
sents a boot-sole creaser from Xushagak. It is etched on three sides, 
and on the side shown are two reindeer caught in rawhide snares, with 
another snare still set between them. 

The white bear is found only at very rare intervals en the mainland 
south of Bering strait. A single young white bear was killed a few 
miles south of St Michael during my residence there, and was said to 
have been tlie iirst one seen in many years. On St Lawrence island they 
are frequently seen on the ice during winter and spring. The hunters 
there kill them by concealing themselves among the ice hummocks in 
the course the bear is pursuing, and as he passes shoot him in the head 
between the eye and the ear. This spot is chosen on account of the 
thinness of the skull, as the .44-caliber breech-loading guns which 
they use have not power enough to kill the bear if shot in any other 
part. 1 saw a great many skulls of these animals on the island named, 
and all of them had bullet holes in the same place. 

From Point Hope to Point Barrow bears are not uncommon, and a 
number of Eskimo living along the coast from Bering strait northward 
have been frightfully disfigured by encounters with them. A man 
from Point Hojie told me of an encounter with one of these animals 

that took place near his vil- 
lage in the winter of 1S80. 
Two men left the village and 

Fiu.si-Ekhiuyoiiivyry, siiuMiiiyiUi,! .-,.iari» (i). wcut out Oil the Sea icc dur- 
ing the night to set their nets 
for seals; while they were setting the nets, at some dist.ance from each 
other, one of them heard the snow cracking under the feet of a white 
bear which was approaching. The hunter was without weapons of any 
kind, and as it was too dark to see the animal he quietly lay down flat 
upon his back on the ice, hoping to escape notice. The bear came 
directly up to him, and stopping, began smelling along his body, until 
finally he jiressed his cold muzzle against the hunter's nose and mouth 
and snified vigorously several times. As he did this the hlinter held 
his breath until his head swam. Suddenly the bear heard the other 
hunter moving about and raised his head to listen; then he sniffed at 
the hunter's face again and started off on a trot toward the other man. 
M'heu the bear had been gone a few moments the prostrate hunter 
sprang to his feet and fied for his life toward the shore, hearing the 
death cry of his comrade as he ran. About noon the next day, when 
the sun came to the horizon, the villagers armed themselves and went 
out on the ice, accompanied by the wife of the missing hunter. They 
reached the place at dawn and found the bear still feasting on the 
hunter's remains. The wife fired the first shot at him, followed by the 
others, and the bear fell; then the woman drew a hunting knife and 
rushing at the bear slashed its sides until the skin hung in shreds, 
when she stopped from exhaustion. 



-^^:S^-^S¥^» -t-ei; 



TRAPS AND SXAl.'KS 



l-'l 



Aiiotlier man in tli.at region has the scalp and flesli from one siile of 
his head, including one eye, torn away by a stroke from the i)a\v of one 
of these animals. 

Formerly, after bears iiad been brought to bay by dogs they were 
killed with stone or iron-pointed lances, and, indeed, tlie people of the 
vSiberiau shore still kill many in this old fashion. 

Wolves are killed with guns or arrows or are taken with various 
kinds of traps; steel traps have been introduc(Ml by the traders, lint 
the ancient devices are still sometimes used for hoth wolves and foxes. 

One of the common methodsof killing wolves in ancient times, which 
is still practiced to a slight extent, was by the use of 
spits maile of whalebone. A slender i)iece of bone, S 
or 9 inches in length and a third of an inch wide is 
pointed at each end, and, after being softened, is bent 
upon itself in folds li or 2 inches in length. It is then 
bound in position by a strip of cord and laid aside until 
it becomes dry, when it retains the form in which it has 
been bent. The cord is then taken oft' and the whale- 
bone is soaked in oil for a short time, then wrai)i)ed in 
tallow, blubber, or sometimes a ))iece of iish-skin, after 
■which it is placed in a locality frequented by wolves 
and foxes. 

Discovering this morsel the animal begins to devour 
it, but finding that it is not easily nuisticated, swallows 
it entire, doubtless mistaking it for a piece of gristle. 
When the whalebone becomes warm and is moistened 
in the stomach, it straightens out aud the pointed ends 
pierce the beast to death or cause siu-li pain that it 
is soon found and dispatched by the hunter who has 
followed its trail. 

Figure 3G shows examples of this implement both in 
the folded aud extended form; they were obtained at 
St Michael. Dead falls, used as trai)s for minks, foxes, 
and sometimes for larger animals, are made by build- 
ing a small inclosure of sticks driven into the ground, 
over the entrance to which a liea\ y log is supi)orted 
4-shape device. 

Plate LI, 0. illustrates a bait spit for use in one of these " 4-traps." 
which was obtained at Port Clarence by Doctor Dall. It consists of a 
double-pointed bone spit about seven iu(;hes in length, with a notch an 
inch from one point, against which is fastened the end of another bone 
spit resting against the notch, and projecting at the other end opposite 
the point of the first named. 

Kear Andrei vsky I saw snares for catching lynxes made by building 
a dome-shape pile of brush, with one or uKue ii;irrow openings leading 
to the bait, which was placed on the ground under the center. At the 




)V an ordinary 



122 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



f ETH. .\A'X. 18 



iiioutli of each of these openings ii rawhide loop was so arranged that 
the lynx could not reacli the bait without getting its head or legs 
entangled, and as the animal drew back the snare would close and hold 
it fast. 

Another common style of snare was made by setting a noose over a 
path used by animals and digging a deep hole in the ground below it. 
To the lower end of the snare a heavy stone was attached, hanging in 
the month of the pit: the upper part of the snare was held open by 
attaching it by strings to surrounding objects, and a trigger was so 
arranged that at a touch from a passing animal the stone would be 
freed and drop into the hole, causing the snare to close and draw the 
animal's neck down to the ground and hold it fast. 

Sometimes a noose was set at the entrance to a tunnel made in the 
frozen snow, with a bait of meat at the rear end, and in endeavoring 
to reach this the animals were snared. 1 was informed that animals as 
large as reindeer, and even bears, were formerly caught by means of 

snares, and that 
they were in gen- 
eral use for tak- 
ing red and white 
foxes. 

South of the 
mouth of the Yu- 
kon the Eskimo 
formerly made 
pits for catching- 
wolves by dig- 
ging in summer 
■^ „~ T- ,.T ~ .. square holes 

Fio.37— Fox or woU tnip with siiii'W siiring. i 

down to the per- 
manently frozen earth, and then making a wall about the sides and 
grading the earth in a gentle slojie up to the outside edge, thus making 
a pit so deep that no animal could jump out; it was then covered with 
a frail roof concealed by straw and weeds, with the bait laid on the 
center. In winter the roof was covered with snow. According to the 
old men this was the commonest style of trap used in ancient times, 
and with it many animals were caught. 

One of the most ingenious traps found among the Eskimo was one 
by means of which the tension of a set of strong, twisted sinew cords 
was iised to throw a lever and brain the animal that sprung it. These 
traps wei'e known to the peojde from the northern shore of Norton 
sound to Kotzebue sound; they are not now used on the American 
coast, as they have been superseded by steel traps, but I was informed 
that formerly they were in common use. 

On St Lawrence island were found many pieces of such traps that 
were large enough to kill foxes, and from this I conclude that they are 
still in use in that district. The accompanying sketch (figure 37) from 




BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG 



T f.HTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. LI 




NETS, SNARES. AND TRAPS ' three-sixteenthS' 



"^•^o-"*! TUAPS AND SN'AHKS 123 

a model made by an Eskimo living- at tlie lu'iid of NoiKm Mjiin.l. ^liows 
the parts and illustrates tlie wurkinj; of this in-jenions .ontrix an. c: 

1—1 is a cylinder of wood, that nniterial or bone ordinarily l.einf; used 
for these traps; 2—2 are crosspieces of wood or bone, boinnl together 
by strong sinew cords; :i is an ivory or bone Woek: 4 is an ivory or 
bone pin, titting into .?, and is attached to a cord ])assing througli a 
hole in the cylinder to the bait at Id; .■> is a slot cut through tlie side 
of the cylinder; is a stout lever of bone with a knob at its inner end, 
which is inserted tlirough the cords connecting 2—2; 8 is a ix.inted 
spike of bone or ivory (a nail is sometimes used on St Lawrence island); 
7 is a i)eg projecting I'rom the side of the lever. 2—2 are twisted in 
opposite directions until the twisting of the connecting cords, which 
■pass around them and through the cylinder, causes a strong tension, 
thus holding the crosspieces so firndy against the ends of the cylinders 
that they can not slip back. Tliis also draws the cord .so taut in the 
cylinder that when the lever, (i. is drawn back to lie parallel with 9, a 
great resistance is encountered, acting like a spring to throw it back 
to its ttrst position. The lever, (J, is held in position next to it by pass- 
ing 4 over 7 and into 3. The bait is tied to the end of a cord attached 
to 1 at 10. ,so that it lies just within S. The trap is then fastened tinnly 
to the ground and concealed with earth, but care is taken to insure the 
free working of the lever. The bait is then ex])Osed in line with the 
lever and when a slight pull is given, the i)in, 4, is freed and the lever 
springs sharply over, burying the spike set in its end in the skull of the 
animal. 

These traps work very nicely and strike a heavy blow. Tliey are 
ordinarily made for killing foxes aiul wolves, but I was told that 
formerly they were sometimes used for bears. 

Figure Kj. plate Li. illustrates a cylinder for one of these trajjs from 
St Lawrence island. It is 12 inches long and ."> inches in diameter, and 
is made from a piece of the jawbone of a whale. It is capped at each 
end by a ring of bone held in position by four iron nails. A dcei) notch 
is cut in the middle of one side of the cyliiuler, at one end of which is 
a slot and at the other a round hole through the side. 

Figure 11, plate li. from the same island, is a lever made of bone, 
forked, and armed at the (mtcr end with iron spikes. The inner end 
terminates in a rim of bone. This is the striking arm of one of these 
traps. It has a notch on one side for receiving the trigger. With this 
arm is a bone ring (plate li, 1")), pierced witli four holes, intended for a 
cap, at one end of the cylinder. 

Figure 12, plate Li, from the same island, represents another striking 
arm for a trap, with three iron spikes set in it. 

For trapping beavers in their houses square nets, I or 5 feet a<-ross, 
with meshes large enough for the beaver's head to pass through, are 
fastened over the entrance to the aniniars house below the surface of 
the water, so that in going out or in tlie animal will become entangled 
and drown. The.se nets are sometimes used in the same way for otters. 



124 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

Hares arc snared and netted in sjning by setting the nets or suares 
anions tlu- bnslies wliich they freciuent, so that they become entangled 
while^niovinji about, or by setting line sinew nets in open spaces 
anions; the bnshcs and then making a drive and frighteuing the animals 
into them. This method is practiced for taliing both the large Arctic 
haie and the white rabbit. 

Parry's marmot is a common animal in many parts of Alaska, par- 
ticnlarlv abont the head of Norton sound and along the shore of 
Kaviak peninsula. Their skins are highly prized for making light 
frocks for summer use and form a prominent article of trade among 
these people. They are best when taken early in spring, soon after the 
marmots have come out of their holes and while they are still in the 
soft, grayish winter fur. They are taken in several ways. One method ■ 
consists of a noose fastened to the end of a willow or alder stick 4 or 
5 feet long, with the large end planted tirmly in the snow or ground. 
The small end, having the noose attached to it, is bent down so that 
the noose hangs just over tlie marmot's runway in the snow or on the 
ground, and is held in place by a small cross stick above it, which is 
hooked under a stick bent across the runway with its ends thrust into 
the ground. It is fastened so lightly that as the animal passes a touch 
releases the trigger and the bent stick springs up and catches it. 

Figure 4, plate li, is an example of this style of snare from Cape 
Darby. The noose is made of whalebone, and is passed through a 
small wooden cylinder, which causes it to run freely and at the same 
time helps to hold it in position. 

Similar nooses were obtained from the head of Kotzebue sound with 
the cylinders made from the hollow wing-bones of birds. In these 
latter a hole is made in one side of the bone at the lower end, in which 
is tied the end of a fine rawhide line. This line passes up through 
the cylinder, and has a small, round block of wood tied crosswise at 
the other end of the cylinder. 

Figure 3.S is another style of marmot trap, from the head of Norton 
sound, made from a cylinder of wood a little over eight inches in 
length. The cylinder is made in two parts, fastened together by means 
of a willow-bark lashing through holes made along the line of junction 
on both sides. A slot is cut through the upper side and a deep groove 
runs around the inside from it, and there are two holes near the other 
end. A strong running noose, made from feather vane or whalebone, 
is inserted through the upper slot and lies concealed within the groove 
on the inside. At the upper end of the noose is a sinew cord, which is 
attached to a bent stick having one end planted tirmly in the ground 
and held in position by a strand of willow bark tied to it, passed down 
through the two holes in the cylinder, and knotted on the under side. 
As the animal comes out of a hole or along a runway, where the trap 
is set, it enters the cylinder, and finding the passage barred by the 
strand of willow bark across the end, bites it off. This releases the 



THAI'S AM) SXAUKS 



125 



bent stick, which tlios up and draws the concealed noose taut al.oiit 
the animal's body and holds it against the ujjper side ot the cylinder 
until it is strangled or the trapper conies to remove it. 

Among the people living to the south ot the Yukon mouth thousands 
ot muskrats and minks are caught every fall and winter in small 
wicker fish traps, such as are used lor taking the blacklisii ihall!,,). 
These tra])S are set in creeks and small rivers, beneath the ice, with 
a close wicker or brush fence exteiuling as wings from either side and 
completely shutting otV the stream except at the opening occupied by 
the funnel-shape mouth of the trap. In this way from ten to twenty 
mink have been known to be taken in a single day. The traps are 
com])leteIy submerged, and. of course, when the animals swim into 
them they are unable to rise to the snrfacu', and (piickly drown. At 



Y 



/«07?" 




Fl«.38-Mairijol tra].. 

times animals even as large as the land otter enter these trajis and 
are taken. 

The skins of minks, muskrats, and marmots are taken off. by a slit 
between the hind legs, and dried on stretchers, with the tlesh side out- 
ward. The stretchers are made by fastening together two long, slender 
sticks by means of crossbars, which permit them to be brought 
together by a hinge like motion and juished into the inside of the skin; 
they are then spread, thus stretching the skin and holding it until it 
is dry. This contrivance and the '• ligure-4 " dead-fall were probably 
introduced by white men. 

Land otters and beavers are taken at their holes by means of steel 
traps. 

The hunting of fur-bearing aninnils of all descriptions conmiences 
with the tirst heavy frost of autumn and continues until the .short cold 
days of midwinter. Then a period of cessation ensues until February, 



12(5 THE ESKIMO AliOLTT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

wlicii the huTitiiiR and tiMpiiiiig- are resumed and continued until the 
.sun ill April renders tlic liir too harsh and brittle to be of value. 

The liuntinsof seiils, wliales, and walrus is conducted in a variety 
of ways, accoriliiiK to the season. 

ICach year about the tirst of Sc|)tember the hunters on the coast of 
Norton sdiuid licfjin to overhaul their seal nets, repair broken or weak 
places. ;ind ri.u tlieni witli sinkers and floats. The nets used are from 
10 to lo fatiioins in U-ngth and from U to 2 fathoms in depth, made 
from liiwjiide, witli a mesh large enough to admit easily the head of a 
seal; liieyare buoyed with wooden Hoats, or sometimes with inflated 
bhiddersj the floats are treijuently made in the form of sea fowls or 
the heads of seals. The lower side of the net is strung with sinkers 
of stone, bone, or ivory, and is anchored at each end by a large stone 
tied with a heavy rawhide cord. Tliese nets work precisely like the 
gill nets used for salmon Ashing, and are very ettective. 

By the middle of September fur seals of two or three species begin to 
come in shore and pass about tlie rocky points or around reefs which 
guard the entrances to the bays and coves which they are in the habit 
of entering. The nets are watched by the owners, and when a seal is 
cauglit the hunter goes out in his kaiak and brains it with a club or 
stone, fashioned for the jiuriiose; then if the net has been damaged it is 
repairetl and reset. 

During the dark nights of midwinter seals are netted beneath the 
ice. The blowholes of the seals are located during the day; at night 
the hunters g() out and make four holes in the ice, in the form of a 
square, at equal distances from the seal hole; a square net is then 
placed under the ice by means of a long pole and a cord, so arranged as 
to cover the access to the hole from below, and held in ])lace by cords 
l)assing up through the holes in the i(;e. When the seal rises to breathe 
it becomes entangled in the net and is captured. This method of net- 
ting is common from Bering strait to Point Barrow. 

Another method of netting seals through the ice was observed on 
the shore between Bering strait and St Michael. In swimming along 
the shore the seals are obliged to pass near the rocky points and head- 
lauds. Taking advantage of this, the hunters make a series of holes 
through the ice at intervals of from 1(» to Lj feet, and then, by use of a 
pole a little longer than the distance between the holes, a stout sealskin 
line is jiassed along from hole to hole until the cord is run out to the 
distance desired, and is used to drag the long net below the ice. Sink- 
ers are fastened to the lower edge of the net, and it is held in position 
at each end by a stout cord tied to a crossbar at the hole or to a stake 
set in the ice. While swimming beneath tiie ice duinng the night the 
seals become entangled in the net and drown. 

For light sinkers on these nets, long, pointed, ivory weights are used 
by the people from the northern end of Norton sound to the coast of 
Bering strait. 



JREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNrjLriQY 



ei'-.hteemth annual re 




BRAINING CLUBS AND SEAL-CAPTURING IMPLEMENTS une-hmm 



NKLsox] SEAL-IItlNTINi; IMl'LEMEXTS 127 

Figure 17, plate lii, is an example of one of fiie jvoiy sinkers in.ni 
yiedge island; it is lonj;', rounded, and tapers Irom tlie middle Toward 
each end. 

Figure l(i. plate i.ii. from Cajie Nome, is another sinker of this de- 
seription, made from a walrus tnsk, with three links in the middle. 

Figure IS, plate Lii. is a light ivory sinker, from Sledge island, with 
etchings on its surface rcpre.senting boats and liouses. 

Figure 2, plate lii, from Cape Fspcnbcrg, is a elid) n.scd for killing 
seals; it has a rounded, curving, wooden handle, with a rawiiide cord 
wound around it to all'ord a good grip. A nmnded kimh of Ijone, 
grooved to lit against the side of the handle, is fastened to the head liv 
a lashing passing through two holes and around a groove at the hack. 

Figure 5, plate lii, from the head of Norton sound, is an oval lirain 
ing stone, having a groove around the middle and the ends brought 
down to a truneate<l jjoiiit. This stone is used on the end of a stout 
cord, which is fastened tirndy about the groove. 

Figure 1, jdate lii, from Point Ilo])e, is a braining stone of mottled 
black and white color, roughly oval in outline, with a hole pierced 
through one end. in which is fastened a stout rawlnde loo]), by means of 
which tlie hunter swings the stone and brings it down ni)on the head 
of the animal. 

Figure 3, plate lit, from Ivigiktauik, is an oval bone head for a 
braining club, with a prominent ridge along the face and truncated on 
the back; it is provided with three holes, by means of which it is lashed 
to the handle. 

I'^igure 23, ])late lii, from the Dioinede islands, is a tloat for a seal 
net, with a long, flattened handle, oval in cross section and pierced at 
the lower end for attachment to the net cord. 

Figure 22, plate Lii, from Cape Nome, is a lloat in the shape of a 
seal head, with blue beads inlaid for eyes and tufts of hair inserted on 
each side of the nose to re|)resent bristles. A hide is pierced through 
the neck, through whh-h the cord is passed for fastening it to the net. 

Figure lo. jilate lii, from Point Hope, is a curiously nuide float rep- 
resenting a seal, with a rounded body, terminating at the rear in an 
ivory ring for attachment of a cord; on the back a larger ivory ring is 
inserted and held n place by a wooden i)in. In this ring are linked 
two ivory pendants, having upon their outer surfaces incisions rep- 
resenting the eyes, nostrils, and month of an animal, i)rol)ably a seal. 
The eyes of the seal in the liead of the lloat are represented by inlaid 
white beads. 

Figure 21, plate lit, represents the head of a seal, with the eyes 
formed by inlaid blue beads. A large bone ring is inserted in the mouth, 
from which hang two ivory pendants. 

Figure 2(1, plate lii, rei)resents a double-head seal, with a hole made 
through the wood on the back end for the attachment of the cord, and 
an ivory pin, with a single link pendant, inserted in the brea.st. 



128 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ethann. 18 

riyiin; 25, ]ilate Lii, is a rndely oval, woodeu uet float, pierced ou 
one side. Jt is I'rom Icy cape. 

I'Mguie 21, plate lii, from St Lawrence island, is a wooden net float, 
sdiiiewhat rounded in outline, witli an ear on one side, which is pierced 
Willi a hole for the attachment of the line. 

]''i<iare 14, plate ui, from St Michael, are specimens, made from wal- 
rus ribs, of a class of implements which serve a double purpose; they 
are used as sinkers and as handles for hauling in the seal or beluga 
nets. 

Figure 2(1, plate Lii, from one of the Diomede islands, is an elongated 
oval sinker for a seal net, made of walrus i\^oi\y; it is surrounded with 
etched bands of zigzag pattern. 

About the end of February the Eskimo from Bering strait southward 
begin to hunt seals at the outer edge of the shore ice, where the leads 
are open at that season. On the 28th of February, ISSO, I met a party 
of ])eople on their way from the head of Norton bay to Cape Dai'by, 
where they were going to hunt seals on the ice until spring opened. 

At midnight on March 28, the same season, I reached a village on 
the northern shore of Norton sound as a party of seal hunters came 
in from the outer edge of the ice, bringing several ttne, large hair seals. 
The entire village was u^) awaiting their return, and we were cordially 
welcomed to the ensuing feast, which lasted until well into the morning. 
The entrails and other jiarts of the viscera were cooked and passed 
around as special delicacies, while the people of the village who had 
come to share in the feast assisted in dressing the animals. 

At this season, also, the people about St Michael begin their usual 
spring hunting upon the ice. They leave their village, hauling their 
kaiaks, spears, guns, and other implements on small, light sledges made 
siiecially for the purpose. Whenever open water is to be crossed the 
kaiak is launched, the sled placed upon it, and the hunter paddles to 
the opposite side, where he resumes his journey upon the ice. The 
method of obtaining seals at this time is by the hunter concealing him- 
self on the ice close to the water, and from this point of vantage shoot- 
ing or spearing them as they swim along the edge. Sometimes a seal 
is shot or speared while lying asleep on the ice. 

When the ice breaks up, so that there is much open water, with 
scattered floes and cakes of varying size, the hunters make long hunts 
in their kaiaks, searching for places where the seals have hauled up 
onto the ice. 

On the 10th of May, one season, I met a party of Eskimo between 
Pastolik, near the Yukon moutii, and St Michael. They had umiaks of 
ordinary size ou sleds, drawn by dogs, and were going with their families 
to the outer edge of St Michael island to hunt seals, planning to return 
to the Yukon mouth in the umiaks when the ice had left the coast. 

During the early sjjring months the small hair seals come up through 
holes in the ice to be delivered of their young. These holes are 



NEi-soNl SEAL-STAI.KIXG IVOliV Si liA rcin:KS 129 

sometimes covered by the Iiimrer witli an aicli oCmiow. and tlic steals are 
surprised iuid speared as Ihey come up. When stalkinj; ihesc seals as 
tliey lie sleeping or sunning- tliemselves on the Ice, the hunter wears a 
pair of knee protectors made of white hear or white doj;' skin, which 
reach I'rom just above the knee to tlu; ankle, and iiave the long shauiry 
fur outward. They are secured upon the leg ))y strings along their 
edges, like a legging, but they do not inclose tlie leg in the rear. A 
huge mitten of the same skin, reaching from the hand to a little above 
the elbow, is also worn on the left arm. Armed with a sjicar, which has 
a long line fastened to a detachable poiut, the hunter apjjroaches erect 
as near to the seal as is prudent, then lies tiat upon the ice and places 
his bent left arm before him so that the huge fur mitten I'orms a sliield 
between him and the seal. The fur hood is raised over his head, so that 
the long border of gray or whitish fur blends with tin? mitten. The 
color of the fur harmonizes vSo well with that of the snow that the hunter 
can creep to within the desired distance of the seal witliout being 
detected. He is always careful to keep his body flat and in a direct 
line behind the mitten, and trails his gun or spear behind him with his 
right hand until near enough to make sure of his siim. When stalking 
a seal in this manner the hunter carries a small wooden scratcher, con- 
sisting of a neatly carved handle, tipped with seal claws. If the seal 
becomes uneasy or suspicious, the hunter pauses, and with this iinjde- 
ment scratches the snow or ice in the same manner and with the same 
force as a seal while, digging a hole in the ico. Hearing this the seal 
seems satistied and droi)s asleej) again. This is rejK'ated, if neces- 
sary, until the hunter is within reach of the animal, wlu'u he drives liis 
spear into it, braces himself, and holds fast to the line. l( close to a 
hole, the seal struggles into. it. Uy holding the line the hunter pre- 
vents its escape, and the animal soon drowns and is hauled out. Of 
late years guns are commonly used for this class of hunting, and the 
seal i.s shot through the head, so that it remains on the ice. 

On the Diomede islands I obtained a typical i)air of white bear skin 
knee protectors, having a triangular piece of sealskin sewed on their 
upper edge to extend above the knee, along the leg, and provided with a 
cord which extends thence up to the waist belt of the hunter. 

Figure 7, jilate Lii, from Point Hope, is an ivory-handle scratcher 
with a riug in the upper end; the handle is crescentic in cross section. 
The lower end is divided into two parts, on which two claws are held 
firmly in position by a sinew lashing. 

Figure 8, plate Lir, from Point Hope, is a similar scratcher with an 
ivory handle, and with three claws litted on the lower end in the same 
manner as in the preceding specimen, 'flie upper end of the handle is 
carved to represent the head of a seal. 

Figure !), plate Lll, from St Michael, is a very ancient scratcher 
obtained in the ruins of an old village. It is made of reindeer horn 
and has two points forming a Y-shape end, on which the seal claws 

IS ETll !) 



130 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ethavx. 18 

were fitted. The handle has a sTOOve around it for the sinew cord that 
served to hokl the claws in i)lace. 

Figure (i, plate Lii, from St Lawrence island, is a small seratcher 
with a wooden handle, and with three large claws upon the tip, which 
are held in jwsition in the usual mauuer by sinew cords. 

Fi,!>iire 1 1, plate lii, from ^STortou sound, is a wooden-handle seratcher 
with three claws fasteueil in position by tine sinew cords passed throu;L;h 
a hole in the handle. The upper end of the handle is bound with sinew 
cords to afl'ord a Arm grip, and a loop of similar cord is fastened to the 
bntr for sus|)ending the implement from the wrist. 

I'Mgure 1(», plate Lii, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a handsomely 
made seratcher with a long wooden handle, having three claws ou the 
lower end, attached in the usual manner. The ]iandle is carved on 
both sides, above and below, and terminates in the image of a white 
bear's head, having blue beads inlaid for eyes. 

Figure 4, plate Lii, from St Michael, is a rather rudely made seratcher, 
with a wooden handle having four claws at the ti]), held iu position by 
a strip of rawhide pierced with four holes and drawn over the claws, 
with a Map extending back on the handle and bound by a cord lashing. 

Another method of approaching seals ou the ice is by the hunter 
covering a light framework with white sheeting and placing it upon a 
kaiak sled in such a way as to conceal himself and the sled, which he 
pushes cautiously before him until he is within range and shoots the 
seal with a rifle. Should he not be provided with a rifle, he uses a 
spear, but approaches near enough to be sure of the cast and then 
Axes the barb hrmly iu the animal's body. 

After having killed a seal at sea the hunter is sometimes able, if the 
seal be small, to drag it upon the kaiak and thrust it inside; but if it 
be large this is impossible, and he is compelled to tow it to the shore or 
to the nearest ice, where it can be cut u]) and stowed in the interior of 
the kaiak. The towline is made fast to the animal by cutting slits in 
the skin through which cords are passed, or the flippers _are tied 
together by cords and drawn against the body and a cord passed 
through a slit iu the upper lip and the head drawn down on the breast. 
In order to pass the cord between the slits in the skin without difti- 
culty, small, slender bone or ivory probes are sometimes used, having a 
notch at the upper end and a groove along both sides. The cord is 
looped and placed over the notched end; the huuter holds the two ends 
in his hands and passes the doubled cord through from one slit in the 
skin to another. 

Figure 12, plate Lii, represents an implement of this kind obtained 
on Kotzebue sound. It is of deerhorn, with a wooden handle fastened 
on by sinew cords and heavily grooved on four sides to enable the 
holder to secure a firm grip. 

During the winter and late in the fall seals are usually fat enough 
to float when killed in the water, but in spring, and sometimes at 



NELSON] SEAL-FLOATING— WHITF.-WIIALK NKT8 131 

Other seasons, they are so thin tl.at fl.cy sink and \\w Inu.tcr loses 
them. To insure their floatin- while beiiij;- towed, it is a coiuinoii imie 
tiee to make slits iu the skin at various i)oints and. with a h.ni,' iioint.-d 
instrument of deerhoru, to loosen the bliibl>er from the nuiM-Je for a 
space of a foot or more iu diameter. Tlien, by use of a hollow tube, 
made from the winji-bone of a bird or from otlier material, air is blown 
in and the place InHated; wooden pluys are then inserted in the slits 
and driven iu tiyhtly to prevent the air from cscapiiij;-. ]5y the aid of 
.several such iutiated spots the seal is Moated and the danger of losing 
it is avoided. 

Figure l.i, plate ur, from riledge island, is one of the probes used for 
loosening- the blubber in the manner described. It consists of a long, 
curved rod of deerhorn. roun<l in cross section and pointed at the top. 
It is set in a slit made in the round wooden handle and held in position 
by means of a lashing of spruce root. A similar instrument was 
obtained at Cape Nome. 

Figure 19, plate lh, from Sledge island, shows a set of eight of the 
described wooden plugs, flattened oval in cross section. They are 
fashioned to a thin, rounded jioint at one end and are broad and trun- 
cated at the other, giving them a wedge shai)e. 

During the latter part of August and early ]>art of Septend)er nets are 
set near rocky islets or reefs to catcli white whales. These net s are simi- 
lar to those intended for seals, except that they have larger meshes 
and are longer and wider. Whales enter them and are entangled 
exactly as fish are caught in gill nets, and, being held under water by 
the weight of heavy anchor stones, are drowned and remain until the 
hunter makes his visit to the net. As these nets are .set so far from 
shore that it is impossible to observe tliem from the land, a daily visit 
is made in a kaiak to inspect them. Sometinu's white whales are cap- 
tured in seal nets near tlie shore, but this occurs only once or twice iu 
a season. Occasionallj^ a school of these whales, while swinuning in 
company, encounter one of these nets set for them and by their united 
strength tear it to ])ieces and escape. 

BIRD SNAHES AND NKTS 

The Eskimo have various ingenious methods of taking ptarmigan 
and water fowl. During the winter snuill sinew snares are set among 
the bushes where the ptarmigan lesort to feed or to rest. Sometimes 
little brush fences are built, with oi)enings at intervals in which the 
snares are set so that the birds may be taken when trying to pass 
through. Figure 10, i)hite li, illustiates one of these snares, fioni N'or- 
ton sound. It consists of a stake nearly M inches in length, having a 
rawhide running noose attached to its upjier end by a sinew lashing: 
a twisted sinew cord about a foot iu length serves to attach the snare 
and stake to the trunk or branchOf an adja(;ent bush. 

As spring opens the male birds commence to molt and the brown 



]32 THE KSKOfo ABOCT BERING STRAIT [etilannmb 

sninnurpliiiim.m- appears ;il)<)ut tlicir necks. At this time they become 
extreinclv ])n!>iiaci()iis and utter loud notes of challenge, which so excite 
other males within hearing that desperate battles ensue. The birds 
oceni).v small knolls or hanks of snow, which give them a vantage point 
from which to look over the adjacent plain. If, when on his knoll, the 
nnile ptarmigan hears another uttering his call within the area he con- 
siders liis own he Hies to the intruder and fiercely attacks him. This 
liahit is taken advantage of by the Eskimo, who stuff the skin of one 
of these birds rudely and mount it upon a stick which holds the head 
outstretched. This decoy is taken to the vicinity of one of the calling 
males, and it is planted on a knoll or snowdrift so that it forms a con- 
spicuous object. The hunter then surrounds it with a finely made net 
of sinew <'ord supported by slender sticks. Both netting and sticks are 
pale yellow in color, and are scarcely discernible at a short distance. 
The hunter then conceals himself close by and imitates the challenge 
note; the bird hears it and flies straight to the spot. As he flies swiftly 
along within a few feet of the ground he sees his supposed rival, dashes 
at him, and is entangled in tlienet. The hunter secures him, after which 
he carries the decoy and the net to the vicinity of another bird. 

Figure 9, plate Li, illustrates one of these fine-meshed ptarmigan 
nets, from St Michael. It is made of sinew cord, and is about Hi feet 
in length. At each end it has a wooden sj)reader, in the form of a round 
stake, about IS inches iu length, tapering at the lower end, to which a 
deerhorn point is securely lashed. In the middle of the net is a similar 
wooden spreader. 

In the collection from (Jape Trince of Wales is a similar but stronger 
sinew net (number 4335-t) having the two end spreaders and three 
wooden sticks for use along the mnldle of the net for holding it in 
position. 

Once when hunting near the Yukon mouth in the month of May, 
wiiile patches of snow still covered the ground in places, I saw my 
Eskimo companion decoy ptarmigan by molding some soft snow into 
the form of a bird; around the part representing the neck he j)laced a 
bunch of brown moss to imitate the brown plumage. This image was 
placed on a small knoll; from a short distance the imitation of a ptar- 
migan was excellent and the hunter succeeded in calling up several 
birds that were in the vicinity. He told me that hunters used to call 
the birds in this manner to shoot tliem with arrows when they NVere 
hunting on the tundra and had no lood. 

After the first snow of winter great flocks of ptarmigan migrate 
southward across the Kaviak peninsula and resort to the valleys of 
Yukon and Kuskokwim ri.vers for the winter. They fly mainly at 
night, and usually begin to move Just as it is becoming dusk, when it 
is still possible to distinguish objects at a distance of 7.") or 100 yards. 
A favorite direction lor these flights is down the valleys of the rivers 
flowing southward into Norton bay. 



NELSON] HIHt) THAITING AM) SNAKING ] 33 

When the iiiig-ratins scnsoii cdiiiineiices the people take Milvaiiiatrc of 
it to capture the birds with saliiKiii nets. lOaeh net is troin :.() to Kxrirct 
in length and is spread open by wooden rods; a man or a woman ateaeh 
end and another in the ndddle holds the net flat on the ground: when 
a Hock of ptarmigan come skimming along within two or three feel of 
the ground, the net is suddenly raised and thrown against and over 
the birds, so as to eover as many as jiossible. The jiersons at the ends 
hold the net down, while the one in the middle i)roeeeds to wring the 
neeks of the cai)tured birds. After throwing them to one side the net 
is again placed in jHtsition. In this manner a hundred birds or more 
are sometimes eajitured in a few minutes. 

(iidls are taken al)ont tlie northern shore of Norton sound and the 
coast of Bering strait by means of bone or deerhorn barl)s, iiointed at 
both ends and liaving a sinew or rawliide cord tied in a groove around 
tlie middle, the other end of the cord being fastened to any suitable 
object that will serve as an anchoi-; or a long line is audiored at both 
ends and tioated on the surface of the water with barbs attached to it 
at intervals. Kach barl) is slijjpcd lengthwise down the throat of a 
small tish which serves as bait. As the gulls in tlieir lliglit see the dead 
lish lloating on the water they seize and swallow them; when they 
attempt to Hy away the barbs turn in their throats and hold them fast. 

Figure 7, plate LI, represents one of these barbs inatitM)!' deerhorn; 
it was obtained from Norton sound. 

Along the northern coast of Norton sound the peojile gather the eggs 
of sea fowl from the clifl's by means of seal nets, which they roll into a 
cable and lash in that shape witli cords; the nets are then lowered 
over the cliffs and the upper ends lirmly fastened to rocks or stakes. 
The egg gatherer fastens a sash about his waist, removes his boots, 
and goes down the net, hand over hand, to the ledges below, tiie meshes 
of the net forming excellent holding places for the (ingers and toes: the 
hunter then tills the inside of his frock above the sash with the eggs 
and climbs to the top of the cliff. 

In a camp at Cape Thompson, on the Anitic (-oast, I saw many dead 
murres which had been caught by letting a man down by a long line 
from the top of the cliff to the ledges where the birds were breeding; 
there he used a scoo]) net and caught as many birds as he wished by 
putting it over them while they sat stupidly on their eggs. 

On the islands of Bering strait the peoi)le catch great numbers of 
anklets with scoop nets, and also by jjlacing the rudely stuffed skin of 
one of the birds ou a rocky ledge and a fincniesh net or snare about 
it. These birds swarm around the rocky clitfs like bees an<l continually 
alight near each other, so that the hunter has only to place the snares 
in position and come out of concealment to take the birds as they are 
caught. 

Figure .j, idate Li. illustrates one of these snares from St Lawrence 
island. It consists of a wooden stake, about live inches in length, 



J 34 THE ESICniO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

liaviiij;- about its uiiirt end a wrapping "f wlialeboue AvliicU secures 
the middle of another strip of whalebone extending outward about a 
foot in each direction, ea(;h end of which is made into a ruunitig noose. 

Fi'mre 1, plate Li, rei)resents a set of snares, from Big lake, used for 
catching dncks or otiier wild fowl about the borders of grassy lakes. 
It consists of a strong spruce root, three or four feet in length, with 
a rawhide cord fastened to each end, by which it is tirmly attached to 
stakes. Spaced at r(!gular intervals along this root are eight running 
nooses, also made of spruce root, spliced by one end to the main root, 
leaving a point projecting outward about two inches, which serves to 
hold the noose open. The snares are set just above the surface of the 
water across the small openings in the floating grass and weeds, and 
as the birds attempt to pass through they are caught. Similar snares 
of whalebone were obtained along the shore of Norton sound, and 
thence northward to Kowak river and Kotzebue sound. 

An ordinary sling, consisting of a strip of leather in the middle and 
two long strings at each end, for casting a stone, is used among the 
Eskimo from the mouth of the Yukon to Kotzebue sound for killing 
birds. A compound sling or bolas is used for catching birds by the 
people of the coast from TTnalaklit to Kotzebue sound, the islands of 
Bering strait, St Lawrence island, and the adjacent Siberian coast. It 
is used but little by the people around the northern end of Norton 
sound, but in the other districts mentioned it is in common use. 
These implements have from four to eight braided sinew or rawhide 
cords, varying from 24 to 30 inches in length, united at one end, where 
they are usually bound together with a tassel of grass or fine wood 
shavings; at the free end of each cord is a weight of bone, wood, or 
ivory, usually in the form of an oval ball, but occasionally it is carved 
into the form of an animal, as in the specimen from Point Hope, illus- 
trated in figure 8, plate li, which has ivory weights representing five 
white bears, a bird, and a seal. Another example, from Nulukhtu- 
logumut, shown in figure IG, plate li, has four pear-shape ivory balls, 
with raven totem marks etched upon their surfaces at the lower 
ends of the rawhide cords; to the united upper ends are attached two 
white gull feathers to guide the implement in its tiigbt. The sjiecimen 
represented in tigure 1-1, plate li, which was obtained at St Law- 
rence island, has four oval wooden balls united by a braided sinew 
cord; another from Port Clarence, shown in tigure .3 of the same plate, 
has six oval balls of bone attached to sinew cords. 

When in search of game the bolas is worn wound around the 
hunter's head like a tillet, with the balls resting on the brow. When 
a flock of ducks, geese, or other wild fowl pass overhead, at an altitude 
not exceeding 40 or .")0 yards, the hunter by a quick motion untwists 
the sling. Ilolding the united ends of the cords in his right hand, he 
seizes the balls with the left and draws the cords so tight that they 
lie parallel to each other; then, as tlie birds come within throwing 



NELS"Nl USE OF HOLAS BIRD TMrnrNl)IN(; 135 

tlishuicc, he swings tlio balls jiiouiul his licad once or twico iiiid casts 
them, aiming a little in front of the lUxtk. When the halls leave (ho 
haud they are close together, the cords trail behind, and tliey travid 
so swiftly that it is dinicult to follow their llight with the eye. As tliey 
begin to lose their impetns they ac(niire a gyrating motion, and spread 
apart until at their highest point they stand out to the full extent of 
the cords in a circle four or live feet in diameter: they seem to hang 
thus for a moment, then, if nothing has been encountered, turn and drop 
to the earth. While in the air the cords do not api)ear to interfere 
with each other, but when the sling reaches the grouTid the cor<ls will 
be found to be interwoven in a perfect network of entanglement; if a 
bird is struck it is enwrapped by the cords and its wings so hampered 
that it falls helpless. 

It is curious to note the (piickness with which this implement 
changes its course if one of the balls encounters any obstruction. At 
Cape Wankarem 1 saw the Chukchi capture many eider ducks by its 
aid, and frequently saw one of the extemled balls or its coid touch a 
duck, when tlie other balls api)eared as if emlowed with intelligence; 
their course wa.s rai)idly changed, and the bird enwrapped as com- 
pletely as if it had been struck s(|uarely by the sling. Owing to the 
space covered by these imidemeuts they are very effective when cast 
among a tlock of birds. They are used mostly on low jxiints over which 
waterfowl tly at certain hours of the day. 

The Eskimo of the Yukon delta and the low country to the southward 
make drives of waterfowl on the marshes during August, when the old 
birds have molted their wing-feathers and the young are still unable 
to Hy. Salmon uets are arranged by means of stout braces and stakes 
to form a pound with wings on one sidc^; the people form a long line 
across the marsh and, by shouting and striking the giound with sticks 
as they advance, drive the birds before them toward the |)()un(l. As they 
approach it, the line of people converge until they reach thewings.and 
the birds, thus inclosed, are driven in and killed with sticks. Thou- 
sands of downy young are thus slaughtered and thrown away, while 
umiaks are tilled with the larger or adult birds. One of the lur traders 
told me that he witnessed a driv(M)f this kind where about a ton of 
young birds were killed and thrown aside, while several umiaks were 
loaded with the larger birds, among which were many varieties of ducks 
and geese. Thei^e drives and the constant egg gathering that is prac- 
ticed every spring are having their elfcct in rapidly diniinisliing the 
number of waterfowl in this district. 

SEAL SPKAIIS 

The ordinary types of weapons used for spearing seals from a kaiak 
vary from 4 to 4A feet in length. They have a light wooden sliatt, 
rounded or slightly oval in cross section, of about the same size from 
butt to point, with a long, rounded head of bone or ivory having a 



236 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERINO STRAIT [kth.asn.18 

hole in the tip in whicli is litted a wooden socket with au oval slot, to 
receive the wedse-slKipe l)ase of a detachable barbed point of boue or 
deerimrn. Tiie he;ids of some of these spears are shaped into rounded, 
tai)eriiis- |)oints, which are inserted in the ends of the wooden shafts; 
ill others the heads have deep, wedge-shape slots in which the bev- 
eled ends of the shafrs are fitted, and have a small shoulder at their 
upper ends to prevent the lashings fiom slipping. In all instances the 
heads are held lirndy in position by strong lashings of braided sinew 
cord, which sometimes extends up the shaft in a long spiral, with from 
one to three bands of wrapping at the upper end, inclosing the quills 
of I'eatliers ])laced near the butt, the other ends of the feathers being 
inserted in deep slits in the shaft, as are also the ends of the sinew 
cord, to hold the wrappings in position. The ivory points for these 
spears are from au inch to three inches iu length, and have two or three 
barbs along each side, with the points and edges formed by four beveled 
laces, and are pierced uear the base to receive a sealskin cord which 
connects them with the hafts. Wheu the spear is thrown, the barbed 
point, when imbedded in the animal, is immediately detached from the 
head of the shaft, to which it remains attached only by the sealskin 
cord whicth has been wrapped around the shaft; as it unwinds the 
shaft of the spear is drawn crosswise after the retreating animal, and 
serves as a drag to exhaust its strength iiud render it more easily over- 
taken by the hunter. The method most frequently used, however, is 
to attach to the barbed point a line about 3.i feet iu length, which is 
divided at about two thirds of its length into two ends, which are 
attached to the shaft about two feet apart, a little nearer to the head 
than to the butt, and are then wound tightly about the shaft. Plate 
LIU, drawn from a ])iiOtograph, illustrates the attitade of a St Michael 
man casting a seal si)ear from a kaiak. 

Figure 2, plate Liv, tVom Uualaklit, is made with the head, point, 
and lashings placed upon the hafts in the usual manner, but the butt 
is without feathering. 

Figure -4, plate liv, a typical spear of this class, from Norton 
sound, has ou the butt three feathers from a cormorant's tail, but is 
otherwise very similar in its fluish to the one just described. 

I'igureS, plate Liv, from St Michael, is a spear having an ivory head 
fitted upon the shaft by means of a slot. The barbed ])oint is attached 
to the shaft by a line about 16 inches long, fastened just above the 
lashing which binds the head to the shaft. 

Figure 5, plate liv, from Big lake, has au ivory head, roughly trian- 
gular in cross section, with angles rounded and the butt cut down to 
a smaller size and inserted in a slot on the end of the wooden shaft, 
which is attached to the head by a rawhide lashing passed through a 
hole in the shaft and in the adjoining part of the head. Outside of this 
the usual sinew lashing holds the shaft firmly over the end of the head. 

]''igure 0, plate liv, from Cape Vancouver, is another spear, with a 
double-feathered butt and an ivory head carved at the end to represent 



NELSON] SEAL, WALItrS, AND WIIALK Sl'KAliS 137 

tbe Lciul of an otter. The iniior end of the head lias a wcdi^v sliajm 
slot, in which the beveled jmint of llic siiat't is lifted: in the lia^^ nf Hi,. 
head is a liole thion<rh wiiidi a rawiiide lashinj;- is ])assed and wound 
tightly aronnd the piqieeting sides of the .slot, holdiu},' tlie head liiinly 
against the shaft. A braided siTiew eord is also wound about the shaft 
from the head to the butt, where the featherings are held in place bv a 
tight wra])i)ing. 

All the suudl spears with featheriess shafts which were collected 
came from the shores of Norton sound; those with single feathering 
were obtained between Tiering- strait and the Kuskokwini, and those 
with the double featliering from Xuiiivak island and the adjacent 
mainland at Gape Vancouver. Clialitinut. and other villages of that 
district. 

These spears are the lightest weai)ons of this character useil by the 
Alaskan Eskimo, and serve mainly for the ca])ture of the smaller seals. 
Throwing-sticks are in general use for casting them. 

Figure 1, plate Liv, from Xiinivak island, is an examjjle of anoliier 
style of seal spear intended to be used with a Ihrowingstick; the 
head is short and thick aTid the feathered butt of the shaft has attached 
to it a bladder float, over which is a light netting of twisted sinew cord. 

WAI.Bl S AMI WIIAI.E SPEARS 

For taking the larger and more vigorous seals, walrus, and white 
whales, a spear of abont the same size and length is used in connection 
with a float and tloat board. The dragging of the shaft against the 
■water, in the kind of spears Just described, is sullieient for retarding 
the flight of the smaller seals after they are struck, but for the larger ani- 
mals the greater resistance of a large lloat on a long line is required. 
This latter style of imi)l(!nient is in use from Kotzebue .sound to Uristol 
bay. The haft is not feathered, ami the head is rather longer and 
slightly heavier than that on ordinary spears of the class just des('ribed. 
The heads are of ivory or bone, and, in the region about Xunivak island 
and tlie adjacent mainland, are connnonly carved into the conventional 
forms of wolves or land offers. 

Figure 7, plate liv, from Nunivak island, is such a si)ear. with (lie 
end of the head carved tore])resent the head of a land otter, with blue 
beads inlaid for eyes. 

Figure 8, plate liv, from the h)wer Kuskokwini, is a spear with the 
shaft carved to represent the conventionalized form of a wolf. The 
ivory head has a wedge shajje point by wJiich it is lifted to the shaft, 
and is bound firmly in place by a sju-uceroot lashing in place of tlie 
usual sin(^w or sealskin cord. 

Figure 10, plate Liv, from the Yukon mouth, is a spear wijli the 
float line and board attached. The barbed ivory point has a triangular 
iron tip inserted in a slot, and is united to the head by a rod of decr- 
horu inserted in a hole in its lower end. The point is i)ierced through 
the middle for the insertion of a -strong rawhide line, which passes 



J 38 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

buck and is loojx-d to tlie lower end of a strong sealskin line six to 
eight falhouis lonji, connecting the spearhead with the float, which 
consists of the entire skin of a seal with all of the openings closed and 
having a nozzle by means of which it is inflated. A cord loop in the 
front end serves to attach it to the end of the float line, which also 
has a i)erm!iueiit loop for tliis purpose. 

Th'' lloat-board consists of a strong, oval hoop of spruce made in two 
U shape i)ieces, with the ends brought together and beveled to form 
a neatly fitting. joint, which is wrapped firmly with a lashing of siiruce 
root; the sides have holes by which a thin board is fastened to the 
under side, the ends of which are notithed in front to form a coarsely 
serrated pattern with five points that are inserted in slots cut in the 
front of the hoop. The front of the board is oval, and the sides taper 
gradually to the points of two ])rojecting arms, which extend four or 
five inches behind the bow; between these arms a deep slot is cut, 
with the inner border rouuded. The board has a round hole in the 
center and a crescentic hole on each side (plate liv, 10). 

On the kaiak the float-board is placed in front of the hunter, with 
the arm like points thrust beneath the cross lashing to hold it in posi- 
tion, and upon it lies the coil of float line with the spear attached and 
resting on the spear guards on the right rail of the boat; the end of 
the line is passed back under the hunter's right arm to the float which, 
fully inflated, rests on the deck just back of the manhole. 

When the spear is thrown the coil runs otf rapidly and the float is 
thrown overboard. In some cases, when the prey is vigorous and leads 
a long i>ursuit, another line, like that shown in figure !), plate liv, is 
made last through the semilunar orifices in the center of the float-board, 
which latter, when drawn through the water by means of this cord, 
assumes a position nearly at a right angle to the course of the animal 
and forms a heavy drag to impede its progress. 

When hunting on the ice the float-board, with the line coiled upou it, 
is carried in the left hand of the hunter and the spear in the right hand 
while he watches along the borders of the leads or holes for the appear- 
ance of the seal. When he succeeds in striking it, he holds firmly to 
the line until the animal is exhausted, or if necessary the float-board 
attached to the line is cast into the water, while the hunter hurries to 
his kaiak and embarks in pursuit. 

In addition to the smaller spears u.sed in connection with the throw- 
ing stick and float-board, larger spears are used to cast directly from 
the hand. These spears have a stout wooden shaft from four to seven 
feet long, with a finger-rest of bone or ivory lashed on at about one- 
third of its length from the butt. The head is of bone or ivory, rounded 
and fitted to the wooden shaft by lashings in a manner similar to that of 
the smaller spears. It is ])ierced near the base for the reception of the 
line by which it is attached to the shaft. Several feet of this line are 
wound about the shaft, so that when the point is detached the cord will 
unwind and the shaft will form a drag to impede the animal in its efforts 



NET.SON1 WA1>KI-S AND WirALE SI'KAK'H I39 

to escape. Figure -', plute J.va. is a t.vpi.al sp,.;,,- „f tl.is kind ln,in 
St Michael. 

Figure 3, plate LVrt, illustrates a typical example of this kiiid of 
spear whicb was obtaiiieil at Sledge island. The shaft is a little over 
six feet long, tapering from tlie middle toward both ends, the uiipcr 
end being the smaller. The i)rivate mark of the owner is marked on 
the shaft in red aud black paint. Tiie head is held in place by a com- 
bination of sinew and rawhide lashings. Spears very sinular to this 
are in common use on the shores of Norton sound and I'.ering strait. 

Figure 1, plate LV«, from Norton sound, is an cxamplt' of the large 
spear used in that locality. 

Figure S, plate LV«, is another sjiear of this kind, about seven feet in 
length, from Port Clarence. The shaft is strongly lasiied with rawhide 
in several places, the lashings being held in jjlace by small bone pins, 
and a strong finger-rest in the form of a seal head is attached to one 
side for use in casting; the butt has a tapering, rounded point of bone, 
fastened by a rawhide lashing which passes through an .uilice in the 
bone. The bone head is inserted in a groove in the wooden shaft, 
against which it is held firndy l)y a rawhide lashing: an ivory rod 
about seven inches in length is inserted in the top and on it is titled 
the detachable harpoon point, the tip of which is slit and a triangular 
piece of brass inserted to form a sharp point. The detachable i)oint 
has a hole through which is passed the cord which attaches it to the 
shaft. 

Figure 7, plate lv«, from Sledge island, is a similar hnt siiorter 
walrus and whale spear, having the bone head worked into an image 
of a white bear's head, with pieces of blue beads inlaid for eyes. 
Spears of this character were found also in use along the coast of 
Kotzebue sound and northward to Point liarrow. 

From St Lawrence island a similar but ruder spear of this kind was 
obtained. It has a long, rounded shaft, with a snuill ivory head and a 
tlugerrest at the middle: the short bone tip at the butt is shariM-ned 
to a wedge-shape point. This specimen, which measures nearly eight 
feet, is the longest of auj^ of the sjiears that were seen. 

Figure (5, plate LVd, from Norton sound, is a s|»ear used for walrus 
and whales, somewhat similar in general (dnu-acter to tliose already 
described, but the long, slender shaft has a spur-shapi' point of bone 
inserted in its upper end and fastened by a rawhide cord. This pro- 
jects obliquely from the shalt instead of being in line with it, as in the 
other specimens described. The usual lashings of rawhide arc aronml 
the shaft, but the bone head is smaller and terminates in a knoli, in 
which is inserted the bone peg on which is litted the detachaldc jmint. 
This point has a flat, triangular, iron tip and a hole through the base 
for the attachment of a stout rawhide cord that i)asses backward 
thi'ough two grooves in the bone head and thence along the shaft to 
the butt, where it is coiled and attached to a tloat. 

Figure .5, plate LV«, from Chichinaganiut. is lln' style of large hand 



140 THE ESKBFO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

spear used on Nuiiivak island and the adjacent mainland, between the 
Yukon and the Kiiskokwini. A deeihorn peg is inserted in the side of 
the shaft to serve as a tinserrest for casting. The shaft is hxrgest near 
the head, round in cross section, and tapers gradually back to the 
truncated ti]). A aiodilication of this style is seen in iignre 4, plate 
LV(( from I'astolik. which has the finger-rest formed of a small bone 
pill inserted in the side of the shaft, but with the latter oval in cross 
section and tapering each way, lil^e the Xorton sound spears of this 
kind. 



Tiie sealskins used as lioats in connection with spears in capturing 
large seals, walrus, and white whales, are taken from the seals entire 
and are tanned usually witli the hair removed. To stop the holes made 
in them by spears or in other ways, and to prevent their fastenings from 
becoming loose and theconsequent loss of the float and the game, plugs 
of wood, bone, ivory, or deerhorn are used, which are stud-like in form, 
with spreading heads and a deep groove around the side. The hole in 
the skin is first sewed up or patched, if necessary, leaving a very small 
orifice, through which the stopper is pressed until it projects far enough 
on the inside for the workman to wrap a stout lashing of thin rawhide 
or sinew cord around the groove and make it fast. This work is done 
through a hole left open at the muzzle of the skin, after which the 
nozzle through which it is inflated is inserted and fastened by rawhide 
lashings. Some of these stoppers are plain, but most of them have the 
npi)er surface carved in a great variety of ornamental designs. 

Figure 5, plate laVKt, illustrates a specimen of one of these stoppers 
obtained at Koiiigunugumut, having the top in the form of a cone. 

Figure 7, plate Lvi«, from Xubviukhchugaluk, has a conical head 
with half of a blue bead set in the top. 

Figure 1, plate LVKf, from Konigunugumut, has an oval head. 

Figure 4, ])late LVi a, from the same locality, has an oval head with 
the raven totem sign etched upon its surface. 

Figure (i, plate LVirt, also from the same locality, has around, flat top, 
with two concentric circles surrounding a wooden plug set in the center. 

Figure 3, jdate la'Ia, from Gape Nome, has the top surrounded by a 
circle with an inlaid bead in the center and a conical base. 

Figure 10, plate LVI(/, from Cape Nome, has the top in the form of a 
seal's head, with the eyes, nostrils, and ears indicated by round wooden 
pegs inlaid in the ivory. 

Figure 14, plate LVirt, from Sledge island, is a large, round, wooden 
plug, on the surface of which are three concentric incised circles. 

Figure 13, plate lvia, from Cape Vancouver, has the upper surface 
very slightly rounded and bearing the features of a woman in low 
relief The eyes, nostrils, and mouth are incised; there are two labret 
holes on each side of the lower lip, and radiating lines from the middle 
of the mouth indicate tattooing. 



^■s"^'™) Fr.OATS J4J 

Figure 1."), plate iA'\(i, Ironi Ajiiiikclumimmt. is of ivory ;iiul lias a 
liiiiiian face carved on the siuiacc of ilic Ih.ad. 

Figure 9, plate LVirt. from Cape Vancouver, is an ivory phi;,', oval in 
outline, with the face of a short-ear owl on its ui>|)er surface. 

Figure L', plate LVI «, from Chalitnnit. is a small stopper with the 
face of a seal in reliel' on its surface. 

Figure 8, plate LVi a. from ('ape Darhy. is a stopper with a stem in the 
form of a link, with its base iirojecting and pierced with a hole, through 
which a crosspiece 
f f ivory is inserted 
to hold the lashing 
in position. In the 
liuli, and carved 
from the same piece 
of ivory, is a seal- 
bead with bristles 
set in by plugs of 
wood to indicate the 
whiskers: the eyes, 
nostrils, and ears 
are represented by 
wooden plugs. 

Figure 12. plate 
LVirt, from Cape 
Darby, is another 
link plug, having 
carved on it a seal- 
bead, the nostrils 
and eyes formed by 
inlaid beads. The 
base has the usual 
constricted neck, 
but is conical in- 
stead of Hattened. 

Figure 11, plate 
LVirt. from Sledge 
island, is made like 
the preceding, with 

a conical base attached to the ojien link by a narrow neck. In this 
link is another one, the outer end of wiiich is car\ed to rei>reseiir the 
end of an iiitlated float. 

Figure 1(), plate LVI '(, from Kushunuk. is a long, slender tloat with an 
ivory nozzle. It is made from the intestines of a seal, and is intended 
to be attached to the shaft of a hand spear. .Some of these floats 
are made from the bladders or stomachs of seals and walrus, and are 
usually oval in shape. 

Figure 39. from Xunivak islaml. is a sealskin lloat. tanned with most 




142 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT. ;eth. ann 18 

of tlic hair leinoved. It iias iui ivory nozzle fitted in the place of one 
of file fore-fiipiiers. Tlie trout of the skin is bent downward and 
wrajiped with rawhide cord, with an ivory peg stuck through to pre- 
vent tlie cord from slipping. The cord has a loose end about three 
feet in length with a loop for attaching it to the float line. 

The nozzles for tin' smaller tloat^, which are attached to the shafts of 
spears, are made usually of ivory; they are round and have a projec- 
tion al oiu^ end which is pierced for the attachment of a line to bind 
tlie nozzle to the shaft of the spear; an enlarged rim prevents the 
lasliiiig from slipping off. In some specimens the base is not pierced, 
but a jirojectiug piece is left which is concave on the lower surface and 
convex on the u])i>er and serves to retain the lashing. 

Figure -9, plate LVi <i, represents a nozzle or mouthpiece obtained at 
Cape Vancouver. It is intended for a small float. 

Figure 24, plate LVirt. is a nozzle from Cape Darby. The, projection 
on the side has a single hole for the ])assage of the cord and a shoulder 
on the projecting end which is grooved for the lashing. 

Figure 37, plate LVi a, from Unalaklit, is another mouthpiece with a 
single flattened hole through its projecting lower side. 

Figure 17, plate LVir/, from Kushunuk, is a large mouthi)iece having 
a raven totem mark on one side of the base, which is pierced with three 
holes for the lashings. 

Figure -!0, plate LVi a, from 8t Michael, has two holes through the 
base for the attachment of the cord. 

Figure 18, jilate LVi u, from St Lawrence island, is another nozzle, as 
is also figure 111 of the same plate, from Cape Darby. Both of these are 
of ivory, and the latter has etched upon its surface several raven totem 
signs. 

Figure 21, plate LVi<(, from the Yukon mouth, is made of deerhorn, 
and has three holes along the base for the attachment of cords. 

Figure 28, plate LVI a, from Cape Nome, has four holes along the base 
for the attachment of cords. 

Figure 25, plate LVio, from Koriigunugumut, is carved in the form 
of a walrus head, the projecting tusks below forming one side of the 
opening at the base for the attachment of the cords. 

For the ])urpose of attaching one float line to another when greater 
length is needed, or for joining lines along the shafts of spears, small 
ivory blocks are used, which are made in great variety of form, and 
considerable ingenuity is displayed in carving their surfaces into vari- 
ous figures and patterns. One form consists of a small block with a 
round hole across its length, near the underside. Another larger hole 
runs from below aud extends obliquely upward, continuing on the upper 
surface as a groove anrand the base of an enlarged head on the npi)er 
side of the block, in which a permanent loop is inserted. When the 
hunter wishes to attach another cord to lengthen his line he passes the 
loojied (Mid through the hole on the underside to the upper surface and 




FLOAT FLOAT PLUGS, AND MOUTH PIECES 




lORD ATTAChER:. 

HUNTING AND FISHING APPARATUS three-sixteenths 



NELSON] COIil) ATTAClir.KS 143 

slips it over the liead, wliere, it falls inio tlic sK.i or neck ami loims a 
lirm attaelinieiit. 

Fiiiiiie L'O. plate lvi />. reitreseuts one of ihesL- blocks. ol)iaineil at 
raimut. It is carved on the underside to represent a bear, with the 
fore-paws extended around in t'mnt. When this li<rnre is turned over, 
the hind legs and the tail, which appear on the opposite side, arc seeti 
to form the fore-legs of another bear, while the forelegs of tiie lirst 
form the hind-limbs of the latter. In the space inclosed by the legs ot 
the last-named bear is the tigiire of a seal-head in str(»ng relief, which 
forms the head over which is passed tlie looji of tiie cord to be allachcd. 

Figure li), plate LXi l>, from Chalitmnt. is a block having the head 
carved to represent a grotescpje face. 

Figure 21, plate T,vr /*, shows a specimen from Kaiallganuit, the head 
of which is carved to form a human face and on the o])iiosJte end is 
etched the head of a seal. 

Figure 10, ])late LVI h, from vSabotiiisky, is a plain block with a deep 
groove cut in the head for the permanent looji, instead of a hole side- 
wise through it. 

Figure 15, plate LVi b, from .St .Michael, is one of tliesi' blocks with 
a grotesque face on the head. Two lawhide loops are placed in it in 
l)osition to show- the manner of making the attachment of lines. 

Figure 7, plate L\ih, from Nulukhtulognmnt. has a diamond shape 
head projeetiug forward to a i)oint. 

Figure S, jdate lAih, from Nniiivak island, has an almond-shape 
head, crossed lengthwise by an incised line. 

Figure 21.', plate i^xib, from St Michael, has the head decorated with 
inci.sed coiu^entric circles arranged in two i>airs. 

Figure 'J, plate lA'lb, from Kushiinuk, has the head cut into an ()\al 
form, with a strong ridge along its top, which turns abruptly down- 
ward iu front. 

Figure fi, plate LVi/>, from the lower Kuskokwim. has a long, beak- 
like projection for the head, as does ligure ."• of the same plate, from 
Koiligunugumut. 

Figure 23, plate LVl/>, from Askiiiuk, rei)resents a grotes(|ue counte- 
nance. In it are inserted two loops to show the method of attai'hnient. 

Another style of cord attacher, (lommonly used to fasten the end ol 
the float line to the short loo]) on a detachable s])earhead. consists of a 
bar-like piece of ivory, pierced with two holes through which is passed 
the end of a rawhide loop, forming the i)ermain'nt attachni<-nt, which 
projects beyond the side of the bar far enough to i)ermit aiH)tlier loop 
to be run through it, passed over the bar, ami drawn back: the bar 
lies across the end of the second loop and ])revents slii)ping. .Vttachers 
of this kind are commonly made in the form of a double crescent joined 
along one side, having two i)arallel holes for the permanent loop: the 
upper sides are convex and the lower ones slightly concave. 

Figure 1, plate lvi/>, represents one of these cord attachers, in the 



144 THE KSKIMO Al'.OlJT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

fonii of a. wliito whale, witli the loop in position to show the method of 
attach men I. It is from tln^ coast between Yukon and Kuskokwim 
livcis. Fiuiire 1 1 of the same. ])late, obtained at St Michael by Mt L. M. 
Turner, is in the foiin of a seal, and tigui-e 10 shows a specimen from 
the Vakon nioutii. also fishioned in the form of a white whale. 

Still another form of these cord attachers consists of a rounded, 
upri.uiit block, pierced with two parallel holes for the attachment of the 
permanent loop. Just above which is a deeply grooved constriction or 
neck to receive the temporary loop. 

t"i<;uie 13, plate LVifc, shows a specimen of this form of the implement, 
obtained at Askinuk; on it is a human face, with labret holes at the 
corners of the mouth, and a raised rim around the face representing a 
fur hood. The raven totem mark is incised on the sides. 

]''i^ure 12, plate L,Yib, from Sledge island, is similar in form, and has 
a wi>man's countenance upon the upper surface, with two labret holes 
in the middle of the lower lip. 

Figure 4. plate lti/>, from Kushuuuk. has a grotesque face upon its 
upper surface. 




Figure 11, plate LVi /', fiom Cape Vancouver, has the face of an owl 
upon the upper surface. 

Figure 2, plate LVi/*. from Kushuuuk, has a wolf-head iipon the 
upi)er surface. 

The accompanying figure, 40, from Uimlaklit, is verj^ well carved to 
represent a hair seal; blue beads are inlaid for eyes. 

Figure 11 a shows a well carved attacker from Golofnin bay ; at one 
end the nostrils of a seal are indicated by round holes, with the cord 
hole tor a mouth; in the tox^ is a deep excavation, in the middle of 
which stands a iirojecting knob carved to represent a seal-head, over 
which the looj) of the temporary attachment is passed; on the lower 
side (figure Alb) is the figure of a whale in relief. 

Figure ">, plate LVi/<, from Kulwognwigumut, has the upper surface 
l^lain, except for a median ridge running lengthwise across it. 

F^igure 18, plate LVi6, from Norton sound, is a long, flat-head spei-i- 
nieii. with a cord inserted to show the manner of attaching the loops. 

F'igure 17, plate Lvift, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a handsomely 
made ivory swivel for attacliment to a float line to i)revent it from 
becoming twisted by the movement of the float; the block, or maia 
portion, is handsomely carved in the form of a white bear's head, i.i 
which fragments of blue beads are set for eyes. The swivel is formed 
by an ivory rod, about an inch in length, with the head carved in the 



FLOATS I.ANCKS 



145 



Mil. 



ucli ;i liaiidlc bar witli the 



sliape of a closed liiiiiiaii fist: it is phKcd in a hole in ih 
the bear head and ])i()iecl.s to the rear. 

The front eiidsofhirge lloats are eoniinonly provided with a eross ha 
of ivory, which serves as a handle for raisinj;- them, and at tlic .saun 
time is couvenieiit for looping the line.s. 

Figure 20, plate i.vi a, from rnahiklit, 
liead of a seal carved at eacli end. 

Figure 23, plate i.vi((, from the Dio- 
iiiede islaud.s. is another siuh bar carved 
in the form of a woman. 

Figure 22. plate LVia, from tiie lower 
Kuskokwim. has one end cut into the 
form of a grotescjue head, and figure .!(» 
of the same plate, from Sledge island, 
has upon one end the bead of a salmon 
and at the other a seafs hind flippers. 

Figure 31, plate lvi«, from St Law- 
rence island, is a wooden bar. rounded 
in cross section, with a rounded knob 
at each end. 



In addition to the spears for killing 
whales and walrus, two distinct kinds 
of lances are used by the Eskimo. The 
ordinary form is found generally on the 
Asiatic and American coasts of Bering 
strait.s and thence northward along the 
Arctic coast. It consists of a slender 
wooden shaft, from six to seven feet in 
length, with a rounded point of flint, 
nejdirite, or other hard stone, held in 
l)osition by rawhide or willow-root iash- 
iiigs. In recent years some of these 
lances have been tipped with iron, but 
the use of stone for this purpo.sc is con- 
nected with the sui)erstition that exists 

among these people which prohibits the ,,.„.-, , ,.. 

use of iron in cutting up these animals. 

Figure 3, plate LV/>, from Cai)e Nome, is a typical example of this 
style of lance. It has a shaft about r>.\ feet in length, oval in cross sec- 
tion, with a rounded point of chipped flint set in the slot at the end and 
bound firmly iu position with a sinc^w lashing. 

Figure 4, plate LV/^ from St Michael, is a shorter shafted lance, with 
the point made from marlde ground down to the leaf .shape outline 
18 KTII 10 




41— Corel attachcr. olivf 



1 ji; THE ESKIMO AHOl'T BERING STRAIT [eth ann. 18 

coiiinioii to tlie stoiic ])(.iiits of these weapous. TTsuiilly the shafts of 
these lances aie phiin, but a specimen (number 3.5891) from IS^ortoii 
sound, lias a tiugerrest of bone bonnd midway on the shaft. 

Tlie otlier form of lance is a peculiar one used alonj;- the coast of Nor- 
ton sound, about Xunivak island, and in the region lying between the 
mouths of Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. It is from 4 to U feet in 
length and has a walrus ivory butt from L'O to 24 inches in length fas- 
tened to the end of tlie wooden shaft. The end of the butt has two 
holes, through which a sinew C(n-d is passed and wound tightly around 
the junction of the two parts of the shaft. The head has a round hole 
for the reception of the point, which is held in position by a stout 
lashing of sinew cord. 

Figure 2, plate LV^, represents a specimen of this kind of lance 
obtained on Nunivak island. It has a butt made from a walrus tusk, 
along each side of which is etched a long, slender figure of an animal, 
having a blue bead inlaid for the eye; the tip of the butt is shaped to 
a tapering point. In the wooden shaft. Just above the ivory butt, a 
deerhorn jx'g is inserted for a tingerrest. 

Another example (number 1CS579) from Nunivak island has the ivory 
butt etched with the outline of a long arm, with a hand at the lower 
end and the palm pierced. 

Figure 1, i)late lv/*, from Nunivak island, has a round bone head 
with three deep grooves extending around it, leaving four ridges ter- 
minating in a shoulder next to the shaft, bound in position by a cotton 
cord, evidently obtained from .some trader. A long, tapering ivory butt, 
triangular in cross section, is fastened to the wooden shaft, and about 
the junction is a strong binding of cord similar to that used on the head. 

All the points used on these lances are detachable, and every hunter 
carries a small bag made from sealskin or other hide, containing eight 
or ten additional points. 

Figure 17, plate lA'na, from the lower Yukon, is a fish-skin bag for 
holding a set of spearpoiuts. These points vary somewhat in char 
acter, but are from S to 10 inches in length, with thin, triangular tips 
of sto)ie, glass, iron, or other material. Sometimes the points are made 
of ivory or bone, but this is not common. Slate is i)erhai)s most 
frequently used, and occasionally Hint or iron points are seen. 

Figure 5, plate L.V h, from Chalitmut, is a lance with a wooden shaft 
on which a raven totem mark is incised. The point to this is of slate, 
beveled on both sides to a sharj) edge, and set in a wooden foreshaft; 
with it is a wooden sheath, to slip over the point and i)roteet it when 
not in use (figure 2-5, plate LVii ((}. Figure 27, plate LVilft, represents 
another form of these wooden sheaths for lance points. 

Figure I'.l, jjlate LViio, shows a lance from Port Clarence, Ijering 
strait. It has a wooden shaft, with a chipped flint point inserted in a 
slot in the end and held in position by a wrapping of whalebone. The 
upper end of the shaft is wrapped with whalebone to prevent splitting, 
and a. small full of seal hair is inserted'in a narrow slot on the side. 



'■■'•'•^'^■l LANCES SI'KAK AND LANTI-: IIKADS I47 

Fiyiux' I'-J, plate LVlla, tVoiu ('ai)c Noinc. and liuuic i'] of tlic >aine 
plate, fnmi Norton .soniid, are lances of this kind, with the points Ix.'nnd 
to the wooden slialts by wrappings of wlialebone. 

Figure IS, plate lviwi, from Cnalaidit, has a wooden shaft, with a 
Ions, slender point of Hint, shaped like the Hint arn.wtips used' in iha't 
region for lunitiug deer. 

Figure 24, plate LViirf, from Cape Vancouver, has a long, grac.-fully 
shai>ed bead of slate, set iu a woolen shafr. 

Some of these lances, instead of a plain wooden shaft oi- a wooden 
shaft with an ivory butt, have the upjier i)art or foreshaft made of Imue 
or ivory. 

Figure 23, i)lale LVn ((, from the lower Kuskokwim. lias a bone fore- 
shaft set iu a slot in the wooden shaft and held in place liv a sinew 
lashing. It has a triangular slate jioint. between whi<'h and the fore- 
shaft is a deep notch forming a barb. 

Figure 20, plate LVii a, from Anogogmut, lias a bone foreshaft with a 
triangular slate tip. The foreshaft is excavated at its posterior end 
for the reception of the end of the wooden |)art. which is thrust into 
tliis hole without other fastening. 

Figure 10, plate LVii«, from Chalitmut, has an ivory foreshaft witli a 
trianguhir iron point set in a slot in its end. On the side of the fore- 
shaft a sharp-poiuted ivory spur is set, pointed backward, and inadi'to 
serve as a barb to fix the point in tlie body of the animal. With this 
specimen is a ueat sheath, made from two pieces of wood carefully 
excavated to the form of the head and bound together l)y a spruce mot 
lashing. 

Figure 20, plate LViiff, obtained on Nunivak island by Doctor Dall, 
has the head made from a jiicce of iron riveted to a wooden shaft, 
which is j)ierced with a hole in which a strong rawhide loop is fastened, 
evidently for attaching the head to the line, so that the weapon could 
be withdrawn and used rcpe:itedly on the same; animal. A long siu'ath 
of wood, wrapi)ed with siiruce roots, serves to protect this |)oint when 
not in use. 

These lances are used when the seal or wah'us has bi-cn disabled, so 
that it can not keep out of reach of its pursuers, when the hunter pad 
dies up close alongside aud strikes the animal, diiving the detachal)le 
head in its entire length. The heail remains in the animal, and the 
hunter immediately fits another point into the .shaft and reiieats the 
blow, thus inserting as many of the l)arbed heads as possible, i-ntil 
the animal is killed or the supply of points exlnuisted. Every hunter 
has his private mark cut on tiu^se points, so that, when the animal is 
.secured, each is enabled to reclaim his own. 

SI'BAR AND LANCK HEADS 

Figure 34, plate LVii />, illustrates a round ivory head for one of the 

smaller .seal si)ears used with a throwing stick, obtained at Hig lake. 

Figure IS, plate LVii /a represents one of the barbed <leeriiorn points 



148 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth axn. 18 

iiscmI ill the small spears. Tiiey are from St Michael. Figure 17 of the 
same plate shows a seal spearpoiiit notched along oue side. It also 
came from St Michael. 

Figure 20, plate lyii h, from Norton bay ; figure IG, plate LVII b, from 
Cape Nome, and figure !!>, plate LVii h, from Nuuivak island, are exam- 
ples of the jioints used in the large hand spears thrown by means of a 
finger lest on the side of the shaft. 

Figure 33, plate LViib, from Anogogmut, is a head for a light spear 
cast with a throwing stick and used in connection with the detachable 
harpoon head and sealskiu float. 

Figun; 12, plate LVii h, from Kigiktauik, is the point for oue of these 
spears made entirely of deerhorn. Ordinarily these points are tipped 
with iron, copper, or stone set in a slot in the end of the point. When 
not in use these points, which have a permanent loop fastened to them, 
are kept in a wooden sheath to prevent the thin metal or stone tip from 
being broken. 

Figure 11, jilate lvii /*, from Kushuiiuk, is one of these points having 
a triangular coiiper tip. On both the frout and the back of the poiut 
raveu totem signs are etched. 

Figure 15, plate lvii b, from Kaialigamut, shows another of these 
points with the sheath in position over the tip. 

Figure 5, plate LVii/>, from Chalitmut, is an iron point for a walrus 
spear, fastened to the bone rod which connects it with the sjiearhead. 
The rod is lashed to a wooden butt which fits into the spt-arhead. 

Figure C, iilate LViiZ*, from Sledge island, is a detached point for one 
of these spears with a triangular tip of thin iron. It terminates at the 
inner end in a single beveled point. 

Figure S, plate LViii, from Sledge island, is a point for oue of these 
spears made entirely from iron worked down to a shape similar to that 
of the others. 

Figure 13, plate lvii />, from St Lawrence island, is a curiously 
shaped point for oue of these spears made from bone with a thin iron 
tip inserted in a slot. 

Figure 11, plate lvii />, from Uualaklit, is a bone point for a large 
hand spear, the inner end terminating in two sharp iioints. 

Figure 1, idate lvii/>, obtained on Nunivak island by Doctor Dall, 
is a good example of a head for a large spear, with a sheath made of 
wood and wrapped with spruce root. 

Figure 7, plate LVii/>, from Sledge island, is a specimen of the ivory 
rods used to connect the detachable spearpoint with the head of the 
spear shaft. 

Figure 1, plate Lvir/>, from Cape Nome, is a walrus ivory spur, such 
as is used at the butt of the large hand spears for walrus and whales. 
This specimen is very old, and has etched along its surface upon one 
side scenes of whale and walrus hunting in umiaks, and wolves and 
the killer whale upon the other. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




LANCE POINTS ETC 




iPEAK head;, POM-JTb, MN'jEKKt:/b E' 

OBJECTS USED IN HUNTING 



NEi-soN) SPKAR AM) I. ANTE POINTS I49 

Figure 3, plate L\\\h, fioiii St I.awn'iiw islaml. is a Ixmc si.ur such 
as is used on the ends of walrus spcais on that island. 

I-'igure :i, plate I.VII /-, I'roni St Lawrence islaml, is anoiher ^pur tor 
ii walrus spear shaft. 

Figure !», i)late I.VII A, from the lower Yukon, ^nd lignre In ,.f the 
same plate, from liuzhinskv, represent triangular slate tips for use on 
detaehahle points of walrus and seal speais. 

Figure (i, plate i.vil«, from Kigiktauik, is a iiandsoni.' Hint laiice- 
point of bluish stone, very regular in form. 

Figure!*, plate LVII'(, from Norton hay, is a triangidar slaie lance- 
l)oint with the border beveled down on both sides to foini the edi;c. 

Figure 4, plate LVI[«, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a large, rouml- 
pointed, flint lancebead. 

Figure 1, plate lvii«, is an old Hint hmceiicad obtained from an 
ancient village site at St Michael. 

Figure Id, jdate LViin. from KMshunuk, is a eurionsly formed slate 
lancepoint. 

Figure 11. plate lviI'(. from ('ai)e Darby, is a leaf-shape slate 
point. 

Figure 2, i^late LVii n, from Kini; island, is a handsomely made ilint 
point, subtriangular in outline. 

Figures, i)Iate l,vn«, from Xid)\ inklichiigabdv, is a diamond shai)e, 
flint lancepoint. 

Figure 5, plate lvU((, from Unalaklit, is made of quaitz crystal. 

Figure 7, plate LVii «, from Uig lake, is a hainlsoinely made,(»val lance- 
point of bluish flint. 

Figure 13, i>late LVii «, from L'oint Hope, and ligun^ lli ol' the same, 
plate, from Kot/.ebue sound, are well chipped tlint points. 

Figure 3, plate LVIKi, from Kotzebue sound, is a haiiilsoincly made 
tlint point of dull greeiusli color. 

Figure 15, plate LVii «, from St Lawrence island, is a laiicehead of 
bone, ti[)i>ed with a thin, oval iron point which is riveted in place by 
an iron pin; it has a deei) slot at the \\\)\h'v end in which the wooden 
shatt is fitted, and has a hole Just below the slot through which ))asse.s 
the rawhide cord which binds it to tlu^ shaft. 

Figure 42 (2), from Ivotzebue .sound, is one of the [loints used on Ihe 
three-point bird spears. Figure 42 (8), obtained on St Lawrence island 
by (Japtain (J. L. Hooper, is a rudely made prong for a l)ird spear- 
point. Figure 42 (7), from t'ai)e Nome, is a bone point such as is u.sed 
on the shafts of bird spears. Figure 12 (3), from Cape Nom<-, and 
flgure 42 (4), from Cape Prince of Wales, represent i)oinfs f.u- bird 
spears. Figure 42 ((»), from St Lawrence island, is a prong or si)ur for 
attachment to the side of the shaft of a bird spear, figure 12 (.")), 
from St Lawrence island, shows the hone points for a small, three- 
])oint bird and fish si)ear. 

In places where there is considerable whale and walrus hunting, each 



loO 



THK Ei^KIMO ABOUT BKRINf! STRAIT 



[eth. axx. 18 



liiiiitcr has several lancepoints, which are. kept wrapped in some kiud 
of skin til protect tliein from injury. 

iMo-iire It, phik> i.vii^n from Cape Darby, ilhistrates a wrapper of 
this kind for hincepoints, made from the skin of a swau's ueck. with 
the featliers left on, and haviuy a rawhide cord attached to one end as 
a fastenini;. The lanceheads are so wrapped that each has a fold of 
the skin between it and the next. 

On the shafts of the large hand spears various kinds of flnger-rests 
are used. Sometimes a small pin of ivory, deerboru, or bone is driven 
into the shaft and left projecting from half an inch to an inch, sloping 
slightly backward to afford a tirm rest for the linger. 

From Point Hope three tinger-rests of deerhorn were obtained. Fig- 
nres 2.". and 'JC>, plate LVii/i, illustrate the.se specimens, each of which 
has the head of a deer carved on the outer end. Figure 21 of the same 




plate shows the other example, which is carved to represent the head 
of an unknown animal, the eyes being formed by inlaid blue beads. 
The base of each of th(se tinger-rests is in the form of a long, thin 
strip for lashing along the shaft of the spear. 

Figure 2S, plate lvii/*, from Sledge island, is a handsomely carved 
flnger-rest, with the head of a white bear on the outer end and the base 
made concave to fit the spear shaft. There is a hole through the base 
to receive the cord which fastens it in place. 

Figure 2!), plate LVI[?>, from the same locality as the specimen last 
described, represents the head of a .seal. 

l-'igure 27, plate LVii?>, from St Michael, represents the head and 
shoulders of a seal. The base has three holes to receive the cord. 

Figure 22, plate Lvii/», from LTnalaldit, has a triangular hole in the 
base for the cord. 



sKi>"''l KINCEK-KESIS — lUUli SI'EAKS ]f,] 

Figure 21. iilatc LViiA, liom Slcdy.- i.slaii.l. is carved t.. leincs,,,, n,,. 
head of a seal. 

Figure .!(), plate LVll/>. tVoni K.ifiiguniigmmit. is a round piece of 
ivory, witli the interior excavated and crossed hy a triaugiil.ir lich- lor 
the passage of a cord. 

Figure 32, plate LViii, from the lower Yukon, and ligure .il of the 
same plate, from Xuuivak island, are roughly triangular linger rest.-; 
of a very eonimon style. They have three holes along the liase for the 
cord. 

Figure 23, plate i.Vil/>, from Sledge island, is a snuill, curved object, 
with a seal-head on the top and pieree<l with live small holes along 
the base for the attachment of cords by which it is lashed to the shaft 
of the spear. This devii^e serves to hold a cord at a jioint where it is 
desired to pass it along the shaft in a dilVerent direction without form- 
ing a knot. Ordinarily small pegs are iTiserted in the shafts of these 
spears for this purpose, but in some instances objects of tliis kiml are 
used. 

In addition to the use of spears for killing seals, wahu>. and 
white whales, the Eskimo have several forms of spears tor caiitiuing 
birds, which vary considerably in length and in other details. The 
commonest form consists of a round wooden shaft, varying from ."> feet 
9 inches to 4 feet 3 inches in length, with three long, rounded, tai)ering 
points, barbed along the inner sid(^ with a series of serrations curved 
slightly outward and set in the form of a^ triangle in grooves around 
the lower end of the shaft. A strong sinew lashing, about one-third of 
the distance from their lower end. secures them to a small central knot 
on the end of the shaft, thence to their lower ends they are wra|ii)cd 
about with a braided sinew cord, which afterward ])asses spirally 
about the handle to the butt, where it is fastened. l'lat(^ LViii, after a 
photograph, illustrates the method of casting bird spears at St .Michael. 

Figure ~>, plate Lix, from Anogogmut, is a typical example of tliese 
sjjears. The shaft is not feathered. 

Figure C of the same plate, from Cape Nome, has a shorter shaft, 
near the butt of which are inserted three feathers from the tail of a 
cormorant. Figure 2, from Norton sound, is a bird spear with three 
rudely made points of deerhorn, the serrations on which are made to 
turn to the sides instead of toward the center as is the usual custom. 
Figure 3, from St Michael, has three deerhorn points, with serrations 
on their outer sides. Figure I, from Nunivak island, has three bone 
points, triangular in cross section, with serrations in pairs facing 
inwai'd. 

From Nunivak island and the adjacent maiidand some spears were 
obtained similar to the preceding, except that they were not feathered 
and have four points. Figure 1, plate i.ix, from Nulukhtulogumut. is 
a typical specimen of these four-poiut bird spears. It has .serrations 
on the inner faces of the points. 



l-,-2 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

Tlie most (;nrioiis bird six'iirs are those with a loug point of bone, 
ivorv, or deerhorn, serrated on one or both sides, inserted in the end 
ol' the wooden sliaCt. Set in the shaft, at about one-third of the dis- 
tance from the butt, are three points of bone, ivory, or deerhorn, which 
are lashed in position with tlieir sharp points extending obliquely out- 
Wiird, forming a triangle. These spears are from 4 to C feet in length 
and irequently have handsomely made points. 

Figure 8, plate Lix, from jSJunivak island, is one of these spears with 
a bone ])oint triangular in cross section and 22 inches in length. It is 
grooved along all the angles, which have serrations along them in 
pairs, at intervals of an inch or more, with a series of coarsely made 
serrations near the butt. The ijoiuts on the shaft are triangular in 
cross section and are bfirbed along their inner edges. This siiecimen 
is without feathering at the base of tlie shaft. 

Figure 9, plate lix, rei)resents a spear obtained by Mr L. M. Turner 
at St Michael. It has three cormorant feathers on the shaft and 
three barbs, on two of which the serrations face outward and on the 
other they are inward. The point is of ivory, hexagonal in cross 
section, and barbed on two sides. 

Figure 7, plate lix, from St Michael, has an ivory point, roughly 
oval in cross section, with two sets of barbs on the edges; three 
barbs on the shaft are of deerhorn serrated along their inner edges. 

Figure 11, jdate lix, from Kazbinsky. is a large and lieavily made 
bird spear, with a strong ])oint of deerhorn and three heavy points 
on the shaft. 

Figure 10, plate lix, from St Michael, is another spear of this 
description, having the point set in a slit at the n])per end of the 
wooden shaft and secured by a rawhide lashing. Three bone jioints 
are lashed to the shaft near the butt. 

Bird spears are used for capturing waterfowl, particularly during 
the late summer and fall, when the geese and ducks have molted their 
wing-feathers and are unable to tiy; also for catching the young of 
various water birds. The object of the three prongs on the shaft is 
to catch the bird by the neck or the wing when the i»oint may have 
niis.sed it. In using the spear but little attempt is made to strike the 
bird with the point, but it is thrown in such a manner that it will 
diverge slightly to one side as it approaches the quarry, so that the 
shaft will slide along the back or the neck and one or more of tlie 
l)oints will catch the neck or the wing. 

THUflWINa STICKS 

The Eskimo are very expert in casting spears with the throwing stick. 
The small, light spears used in hunting seals are cast from 30 to 50 
yards with considerable accuracy and force. I have seen them practice 
by the hour throwing their spears at young waterfowl, and their accu- 
racy is remarkable. The birds sometimes would see the spear com- 
ing and dive just before it reached them, but almost invariably the 




N f ■ CD ) 



i > 



'•■'^'-s"NJ rin^nviN(; stk ks ]-,3 

weapon stiuc-k in the middl.' of the ciicl." on tlio water wheic the hinl 
liad gone dowii. lUrd spears are generally cast overhand, so as to 
strike from above, hut iftiie birds are shy and dive .|ui<-kly, the sp.-ars 
art' cast wiili an iinderliaiid tlirow so that they skim along the surface 
of the waler. 1 have seen a liunter tlirowing a spear at waterfowl ou 
the surface of a stream when small waves were running; the spear 
would til) the crests of the waves, sending up little jets of sjiray, and 
yet continue its course for 20 or 25 yards. This metliod is very (-(jnfus- 
ing to the birds, as they are freiiuently struck by the spear before they 
seem to be aware of its approach. WIumi throwing spears into Hock's 
of partly fledged ducks or geese that are bunidied togetliei-, two or 
even three are sometimes im]mled at once upon the triple points. 

Hunters in kaiaks are able to follow a seal or a diving waterfowl in 
calm weather l)y the lines of bubbles which rise from the swimming 
animal and unirk itscour.se beneath the surface. On one occasion I 
amused myself for nearly half a day wiih two Eskimo comiianions in 
kaiaks by pursuing half tledged eider ducks in the sea olf the end ol' 
Stuart island. After a little instruction from my companions I was 
surprised to see how readily the birds could be followed, for when they 
came to the surface they were always within easy range of a cast of 
the spear. 

In using the throwing stick for casting thes]>ear in a curve through 
the air by an overhand motion, the throwing stick is held ])ointing 
backward; the end of the spear shaft is laid in the groove on its upper 
surface, resting against the ivory pin or other crosspiece at the outer 
end; the shaft of the spear crosses the lingers and is held in position 
by grasping with the thund) and forelinger around the throwing stick. 
The under side of the spear rests upon the extende<l end of the third 
tinger, wliich lies along a gi-oove in the throwing stick. This gives the 
outer end of the spear an uiiward cant, so that when it is cast it takes 
a slightly upward course. If the cast is to be maile directly forward 
with a vertical motion of the hand, the spear is held with the groove 
upward; but in throwing the spear along the surface of the water the 
throwing stick is so held that the groove faces outwardly. In using 
throwing sticks that have pins .set along the side for linger-rests. the 
spear is held in ])osition by the thumb and second linger instead of 
with the thumb and first linger, as is usual with other ihrowing sticks. 
In the case of the threei)eg throwing sticks the s|)ear rests upon the 
turned-in ends of the first and third lingers, while the thumb and 
second finger hold it in ])ositiou from above. 

The throwing sticks u.sed by the I'nalit Kskimo are madeof a length 
proportioned to the size of the person who is to use them; this is 
determined l)y the measurement of the forearm from the point of the 
right elbow to the tip of the outstretched forelinger. Throwing sticks 
used with the spears for hunting white whales are made longer by the 
width of the forelinger than those u.sed for seal and bird spears. 

The ordinal V length of I he .seal spears used with throwing sticks by 



154 



THE ESKIMO AliOUT BERING STKAIT 



the riuilitis calc.iilati'd as thrt'e times tlie clistauce from the point of 
the makers ell)0\v to tlie tip of tlie outstretched foretiuger, with the 
added widtli of the left tliumh for eacli of the first two cubits and the 
widtli ol' the left hand added to the last. Seal hunters arc not so care- 
ful about the precise length of their throwing sticks as the white whale 
htuiters, who are extremely exact in their measurements. 

Fi"ure -43 (0) represents a throwing stick, from Sledge island, with the 
tapering point deeply grooved and provided with an ivory pin against 
which the slightly excavated tip of the spear is intended to rest. The 
handle is rounded near the end and notc'hed on the sides to receive the 
thniid) and the little finger. Small, rudely made depressions in the 
upper surface serve for the ends of the second and third fingers, and a 




till 



ill is intended for the insertion of the 



hole luiiniiig obliquely 
forefinger. 

Figure 4:; (1) sliows a throwing stick, from Sabotnisky, with a jieg of 
ivory in the groove on its ui)i>er surface to receive tlie butt of the spear. 
The handle has a hide on the underside to receive the forefinger, a 
wooden pin on the inside as a rest for the second finger, with a deep 
notch opposite for the thumb, and the upper surface of the slightly 
expanded butt has a fiat de|)ressi()n to receive the ends of the last two 
fingers. 

Figure 4.'i (7), also from Sabotnisky, is similar in form to the last, with 
a wooden peg at the end of the groove to receive the butt of the sjiear. 
Another wooden pin on the inside of the handle serves as a rest for the 
foreflnger, while an excavation on the upper surface for the tips of the 
last three fingers is oval in form, with incisions representing a crane 
with long bill and legs, wliich is a totemic sign. 



'^'■■'^" THROWIN.; STICK: 1;, .w? 1 55 

Figure 43 ,4 . likewise from Salmtnisky. has two ].ins ..n tIk- baiulle. 
against which rest the second and little lingers. The usual slot iV.r the 
thumb and an aperture for the admission of the first finder ar.- j.ro 
Tided. 

Figure 43 (5), from St Michael, has two j.ins. one ..f wood and the other 
of deerhom. on the side of thi- handle as rest* for the lirst and last 
fingers. Three hollows on the upi>f r siu-face serve for the tips of the 
last three fingers. An upright -wooden pin at the end of the groove in 
the handle is iutended to retain the butt of the si>ear. 

Figure 43 3 , from Norton sound, has a hole on the underside f t the 
forefinger, a shallow depression on the upper surface for receiving the 
tips of the fingers, and two bone pins on the side, against which the 
third and last fingers may rest. 

Figure 43 (!f). from St Michael, has two wooden pins on the side and 
a depression on the upper surface as rests for the fingers, and a hole 
through the lower part for the forefinger, in front of which is cur the 
raven totem sign. 

Figure 43 2 . from Cape Vancomver. is a long, slender stick, with a 
narrow groove on one side of the handle for the thumb, two pins on the 
opjwsite side as rests for the first and sec-ond fingers, and a deep 
depression on the top for the ends of the last two fingers. 

Figure 43 (S , from N^univak island, has two pins on one side of the 
handle as rests for the first and second fingers, a groove for the thumb. 
and a crossbar of ivory at the end of the groove in the upi>er surface, 
with a small spur at its side to retain the butt of the spear. 

Figure 43 (11 . from Kushnnnk. has ihree i>egs along one side uf the 
handle, and a groove on the upi>er surface as a rest for the fingers, 
while a rounded slot on the opposite side is intende«l for the thumb. 

Figure 4^i 10). from Nunirak island, was obtainetl by I>">ctor I>;\11. 
It has three pegs on one side of the handle and three depressions on 
the upper surface as finger-rests and a deep slot to receive the thumb. 

Among the throwing sticks obtained by Doctor Dall on Nunivak 
island is one having two tKjne l>egs on one side and made to use in the 
left hand. This is the only example of the kind in the collection. 



Bows and arrows were still in common use for sh'Hitiiig tunls and 
fish in some districts of northwestern Alaska during my residence there. 
The Eskimo hunters rule for making his bow was that it should be the 
length of his outstretched arms, measuring Irom the riiijzer tijis. The 
length of the ordinary hunting or war arrow was the distance fn>m the 
til) of the extended left thumb to tlie inner cndi>f the right collarbone, 
but if the man happened to be short armed he usually measure<l from 
the tip of the left forefinger instead of from the thumb. 

Among the Eskimo the making of .sinew-backed bows atiainal a 
high degree of excellence, particularly in the district between lower 
Yukon and Knskokwim rivers, where bows are still used more than 



j-^Q THE ESKIMO AliOTT BERING STRAIT [eth anx. 18 

clscwliorc in Alaska. These bows are of the kiud generally in use, but 
some arc made without backiug. At St Michael, and thence to the 
northward, bows without sinew backing were common, but the majority 
of all bows in this region have a backing of some kind. 

A large nnuiber of bows were collected which vary considerably in 
form and style of backing. 

Figure I. plate LX, illustrates a bow from Askinuk, narrowed and 
thickened in the ndddle, where it is grasped by the hand; thence it 
broadens in each direct'ou for a short distance and then narrows 
toward the tips, where it is notched for the reception of the string. 

Figure i, plate LX, from Jfunivak island, is a bow with a heavy 
sinew cable along the back, with three sets of cross-lashings to hold it 
in i)osition; the string is of twisted sinew. 

Figure -', plate lx, from the lower Yukon, is backed with a single 
heavy cable of sinew, with two cross lashings near the ends and one in 
till' middle. 

Figure 6, plate LX, is a bow from Askinuk, made with a single cable 
as backing, which is held in position by line cross lashings; to force up 
and tighten this backing two small wooden blocks, each notched on its 
upper side, are inserted on one side of the middle. 

Figure .">, plate lx, is a broad, heavy bow from Tununuk, with a sin- 
gle cable along the back and a continuous lashing to hold it in position 
along the inner two-thirds of its length. The string is of sinew, with a 
wrapping of spruce root on the middle to attbrd a good hold for the 
fingers. 

Figure 7, plate LX, from ISTunivak island, has a single cable along the 
back, which is held in i)ositian by a continuous cross-lashing along 
the middle third and one near each end; inserted tinder the cable in 
the center of the bow is a long strip of ivory, flattened below and 
groi>ved above, to receive the cable, which is intended as a strength- 
ener and to give elasticity. 

I'^igure 3, plate LX, from Unalaklit, has two flattened cables of sinew 
along the back, with a thin layer of skin beneath them. They are held 
in position by a continuous cross-lashing of sinew, which extends along 
the entire length from within about six inches of the ends. 

Figure 8, plate LX, from Pastolik, has a single light cable along the 
back, v/ith a cross-lashing extending about one-third of the length each 
way from the middle. This bow has a double curve about one-fourth 
of the length inward from each end; along the back, in this curve, is 
laid a piece of deerhorn, which is flat on the lower side for resting 
upon the bow and grooved above to receive the cable. 

Figure 10, plate LX, represents a heavy bow obtained by Captain 
Hooper on St Lawrence island. It has a double curve about eight 
inches from each end and is backed with a series of braided sinew 
cords, the ends of which are wound around the bow and foi ni cross- 
lashings for about eight inches from each end. 

F^igure 11. plate LX, is a bow from Cape Vancouver, with a double 



KELSON] BOWS AMI ARK'dWS Ir^y 

cnrvi' about tiftei'ii in.lws tVoiu ,.a,h ,>n,l. It has a sin-lo calil,. „f 
sinew as ;i backiii- li.'ld in i,osiii(.u l.y nmuen.iis cross lashin-s, aii.l i 
loiij-- strip of ivory aloii- ihr iniddl.', uihUt the backin- to JivV addi- 
tional streiigtli. 

Fiyiue 9, plate L\. is a broad, thin bow iVon. i;a/.l)insky, wiiii a raw- 
bide strin-- and a sinew cable as backin-. fastened by ininierous cross- 
lasliiuj;s: there is a double curve about a quarter of the distance from 
each end, in which is set a sliort, triau-ular wooden pin. havinpr a 
broad base, and notched above to receive the iiackiiiir. A strip of wood 
is inserted under the backinj;- as ft strenj^theiu^r. 

Figure -'li, i)late i.xib, from the lower Yukon, represents a s(rip of 
bone, flat ou one side and grooved on the other. It is intended Ibr use 
as a streugtheuer to be inserted tinder the sinew backing of a bow. 

Figure 2, plate Li, is a small bow from St Michael, with a sinew 
backing, fastened by a number of cross lashings at short intervals. 
Attached to the bow by means of long sinew cords are two slender 
bone arrows about nine inches long, with barbed points. This imple- 
ment is u.sed for killing muskrats. The hunter, having found a hole of 
these animals in the ground, or at the entrance of their house, sits 
(|uietly down in front of it. with one of these arrows fitted on the string 
ready to f.hoot. The moment the head of the nmskrat is seen at the 
mouth of the hole the arrow is loosed and the liarb jjoint entering the 
animal prevents its escajie, while the cord that attaches the arrow to 
the bow enables the hunter to drag it out of its burrow. 



ARROWS FOI; LAKliK liAMI' 

Several forms of arrows are used in dillerent parts of the Alaskan 
mainland and ou the adjacent islands. Among those collected the most 
iiniiortant were the arrows used for hunting large game and in war. 
These consist of a straight wooden shaft, sometimes terminating in a 
foreshaft of bone or of ivory, with a stone or metal point set in a slot 
in the end. Others ha\e a long [loint of I)one or ivory witli a sliar|) 
edge, either notched or smooth. 

Figure 5, plate lxi((, represents an arrow from Cam'. Darby, having 
a straight bone tij), suboval in cross section, with tliree notclies on one 
side, and shaped to a shari) point. Tli(> shaft has a notch for the liow- 
string, but it is not feathered. 

Figure 'J, plate I.XI «, shows a deer arrow from l>ig ialce, ha\ ing a long 
bone point with four notches along each side, ami a mirrow. Ilattened 
base inserted iu the sjdit end of the shaft anti lirndy lashed to it by a 
sinew cord. At the butt of the arrow arc three feathers with one side 
of the plume removed, the tips being iiiserted in little slits near the 
end of the shaft, and the butts, which point forward, lieing hi'ld in 
])osition by a siin-w lashing. This is the method commonly adopted on 
the Alaskan mainland for attaching feathers to arrows. 



If,^ THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

I'Mgure 1, plate LXU(, shows one of two arrows froui St Lawrence island, 
botli of wliic.li bare long, pointed, triangular heads of ivory, tlie butts 
of which are set iu slots in the wooden shafts and fastened by sinew 
lashings. The shafts have their fore ends trianguhir in continuation 
of the shape of the i)oiiits, but toward the butt they become round, 
and are Hatteued as they approach the end. One of these shafts is 
l)roadly dattened as an aid to the feathering iu guiding its flight; the 
other was feathered upon both sides of the flattened butt, but the 
feathering has been lost. 

Figures 4 aiul (i, plate LXi«, are ivory-pointed arrows from St Law- 
rence island. 

Figure 2, plate lxi«, represents an arrow from St Lawrence island, 
having a long, triaugulai- point of ivory with four notches on one side 
of the point without barbing, except on the hindmost, where the jioint 
is cut to a wedge-shape for insertion in a slot in the wooden shaft. This 
sliatt has two feathers from a cormorant tail, fastened in the usual 
manner. 

Figure 8, plate LXKt, shows an arrow obtained on Xunivak island by 
Doctor Dall. It has a long bone point with three notches on the side 
and a groove running along their bases, thus marking the arrow as 
belonging to a man of the wolf totem. The point is inserted in a hole 
in the shaft, which is wound with sinew lashing: it has three feathers 
near the butt, held in position by ;i sinew cord. 

Figure 3, plate LXla, shows an arrow from St Lawrence island, with 
a long, flattened bone point with a strong barb on one surface and 
grooved along the other. There are two tail-feathers of a cormorant 
on the flattened sides of the shaft near the butt. 

Figure 7, plate LXir(, shows an arrow obtained at St Michael by Mr 
L. M. Turner. The point is of bone, triangular iu cross-section, but 
becoming round near the butt, where it is inserted in the shaft and held 
in place by a sinew lashing. The butt of the shaft is not feathered. 

Figure 10, plate lxk/, represents au arrow obtained by Doctor Dall 
fioin Nunivak island; it has a foreshaft of bone, is suboval in cross- 
section, with a single strong notch and barb on one side and a thin, 
triangular tip of iron inserted in a notch at the top. It has three 
halves of feathers at equal intervals around the butt, fastened in the 
usual manner. 

Figure 11, plate lxI((, from St Lawrence island, has a bone fore- 
shaft in which a triangular point is inserted, and two cormorant 
feathers near the butt of the shaft. 

Figure 12, plate LXicf, from St Lawrence island, has a bone lore- 
shaft set on the shaft in an unusual manner. The foreshaft has a 
wedge-shape slot in which the wooden shaft is inserted, and an iron 
point is tixed in a slot in the other end of the foreshaft. Loth point 
and foreshaft are held in position by wooden rivets, and a sinew lash- 
ing is wound around the junction of the foreshaft and shaft to bind 
them securely iu place. 



BUffEAU UF AMERICAN E T HNOLlh.", >' 



i'-^TEENTH ANNUAl F<Er'(.)H 



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JR LARjt G.--V,E A,-.., F., 




/. ARROW POINTS, WRIST GUARDS, AND S T REt, .,THE-,ERS F(> 


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ri MM £ 1^ 




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.- BIRD ARROWS anl: vuivER Ti.., ..-•w,-f,!i.-fM 
HUNTING AND WAR IMPLEMENTS 



AniDiio tlic iUioxviKunts witliont shnlts. ..l.t:ii,i,.,i on St l.awivnrc- 
island, are .seveiul of peculiar lonii. Aiiioiij; these llic siie.iiiiei.s 
shown in tiyiires 12, 14, and i:,. plate L\ih. diiler „i..st Ironi those 
already deseribed. They are all made from bone. 

Fiji-lire 11, idate LXI/^ from Kowak river, is a doiil)i...noteh arn.w- 
point of deerhoin, and ligiire 10 of ihi. same i)late is a siniil.-nnich 
ivory point from Nubviukhclnisalnk. 

Fignre S, plate LXii, from the lower Yukon, is a bone foreshaft with 
a sinj^le notch on one side and with a small slate point. 

Fiiiure 9, plate LXI^, from Point noi>e. is a bone foicshafi nmH, a 
sin;;le deep notch and a well made til) of chipped flint. 

Fifjnre (!, plate LXih, from Ifazbinsky, is a trianjinlar slate point. 

Fijjnre 7, plate lxi/*, from Caiie I'rince of Wales, is a trianmil.ir 
point of hard, green stone. 

Figure 22, plate LX I /^ is a beaiitifnll\ .hipped llint arrowhead Irom 
Point IIoi)e. 

Figure 21, plate LXih. is a llint point from Unalaklit. 

Figures 20, 23. plate hXih, are tlint points from llotham inlet. 

iMguie 2-1, plate LXi/>, from Shaktolik; ligtire 2.") of the same ])laie, 
from Nubviukbcliugalnk. and tigitre ."> of the plate, from St Michael, 
illustrate well made tlint points. 

Figure 13, jdate LXt/>, is an iron point, from St l.awrence island, 
resembling some of the l)oiie points in form. 

i;lKii \Ki;ii\\'s 

Arrows with blunt heads of \arious patterns are nsed for killing 
birds. 

Figure 2, i)late LXir. is a featherless arrow from St Lawrenci' island, 
with ii rounded, (-oiiical head of i\ory that lias a hole in the base for 
the insertion of the shaft. 

Figure 3, j)late i-Xic. is an arrow from ("ape Darby, witli a bone head 
that teriLunates in a knob-shape eulargement witii a series of notches 
around the edge, forming a crenel. ited pattern. 

Figure 1, plate LXic, is an arrow from I'aslollk. with a long Ixnie 
head, which is excavated and crossed by two slots which form lour 
points ranged in a circle around the edge. The butt has two feathers. 

Figure 1, plate lxic, is an arrow from Cape N'aiicouvcr, with a round 
head of ivory teriuinating in a conical point, dust back of the hea<l 
the shatt is crossed by two bone pins which are jiassed tlirongli it at 
right angles, with the points ])rqjecting. The butt has three feathers 
which are b<iund on with a strip of whalebone. 

Figure .">. plate Lxic. is a boy's bird arrow from KigiklaiiiU. with a 
knob like head of bone which has four points around its surfaee. The 
tapering end of the shall is inserted in a hole at the base of the head. 
On the butt are two feathers. 

Figure 0, plate lxic, shows an arrow, from l\.igiklaiiik. with a donl.le- 
poiuted bone head on which the raven totem sign is engraved. 



IGO 



THK ESKIMO AllOUT BERING STRAIT 



Fi-iiie 7, iilate Lxrc, illiistnites an arrow from the lower Yukon, with 
a kiioblike bone head notched around its edge and terminating in a 
small point in the center. At the base of the shaft are three feathers 
of the uerfalcon, tastoneil by sinew wrappings. 



(Iditido ti. tlie 
11 have other.- 



for 



FISH Ai;];ows 

)ws used for Ivilling birds and mammals, the 
tish. which vary considerably in 
the shape of the heads. 

IMgure Jri (3) represents one of 
these fish arrows from Razbinsky. 
It has a wooden shaft, with three 
feather vanes at the butt and 
a single barbed point of bone in- 
serted in the split end of the 
shaft and held iu position by 
sinew lashing. 

Figure 44 (4, 5) are fish arrows 
from Nunivak island, each having 
a single, long point with a series of 
barbs along the inside and a short 
supplementary barb on the opi)0- 
site side of the shaft. The base is 
set in a slot iu the shaft and held 
in place by sinew lashings. At 
the butt are two feathers. 

Figure 44 ((!) shows a fish arrow, 
from the lower A'ukon, with two 
barbs of unequal length, notched 
along their outer edges, set into the 
head of the shaft with their backs 
nearly touching, and held in posi- 
tion by a strong lashing. At the 
butt of the shaft are three feath- 
ers, the ends of which are inserted 
and fastened by sinew lashings. 

Figure 44 (7) shows a fish arrow, 

from Xunivak island, somewhat 

similar to the preceding specimen, having two points of bone, barbed 

along their outer surfaces and held in position by sinew lashings. The 

butt has three feather vanes. 

Figure 44 (S) illustrates another double-pointed fish arrow, from 
Itazbinsky, with barbs along the inner faces of the points. 

Figure 44 (!l) shows a lish arrow, from Norton sound, which has three 
bone points with a series of barbs along tlie inner face of each; the long, 
])«iinte(l lower ends arc inserted in deep grooves in the sides of the 




Flti. 44— Fish 



VELSONJ ARROWS, QUIVEWS, AND WIUST GUARDS Ifj 1 

shaft, wlicre they are fastened by sinew lashin-s. At the l.asc me 
tliree featliers. 

Figure 44 (10) represents a liandsouiely made triple ]u)inr lisii arrow 
from Cape Vancouver, with the points serrated as in the precclini^r 
specimen and held in position ny an ivory ferule slipped over tiieuK 
At the base of the shaft are three tail feathers of a cormorant. They 
are notched along- their inner vanes and bound in place by a sinew coril 
at their tips and a stri)) of whalebone about the lower ends. 

I'Mgure 44 (2) shows a tish arrow from Cape X'aucouver; it has a bone 
head, provided with a detachable barbed point fastened to the shaft by 
a cord. 

Figure 44 (1) shows a fish arrow from the Yukon month, having a 
detachable point, with a long sinew cord, which is divided on its inner 
half and attached at two widely separated points to the shaft. Wlicn a 
tish is struck and the point freed, the shaft floats and forms a drag to 
impede its escape. 

Al:l;<iwpoiXTs 

Figure 2, plate lxi/<, is a bone arrowluad from Sabotnisky. the tip 
of which is notched to form four points. The base forms a wedge- 
shape point for insertion in the shaft. 

Figure 17, plate LXi/*, from Kigiktauik, is a bone point beveled down 
to ft)rm five faces. 

Figure 1, plate z,xih, from Xunivak island, is a (conical i)oint of wood 
having two short, iron crossbars inserted at right angles through the 
bead. The inner end is cut down to a wedge-shape poi?it for insertion 
in the shaft. 

Figures I! and 18, plate LXi/*, show conical points of ivory from St 
Lawrence island. Their bases are excavated, witli a round hole for 
receiving the points of the shafts. 

, Figure 10, plate LXlh, from Nunivak island, is of ivory, with the base 
excavated to receive the sliaft. The conical point is surrounded by 
rounded auxiliary points, formed by incisions along the sides, making 
a crenelated pattern. 

(,)U1VEKS 

Figure 8, plate LXic, represents a fish-skin quiver from the lower 
Yukon. It has a cord attached at the upper edge and at another ])oint 
about midway on one side. 

Figure 27, plate Lxi/y, shows a long ivory rod which was obtained at 
St Michael by -Mr Turner; it is intended for insertion .dong the side of 
a quiver to stiffen it It is crescentic in cross section and large at one 
end, which terminates in the figure of a wolfs head. The back of the 
rod has three holes for the passage of a lashing. 

\VRr.ST(a'AKI).S 

Figure 4, plate lxi/;, shows a bone wrist-guard from St Michael, niade 
to wear uiion the left wrist to pievent tiie bowstring from striking it. 
ISeth 11 



1(52 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STKAIT [eth.ann. 18 

It is bound on by a .strij) of rawbitle, which is passed through two holes 
on one side, and one upon the other. 

I'ignre 19, plate LXi/>, illustrates a bone wrist-guard from Kowak 
river, with a single liole ou one side for the attachment of a cord. Wrist- 
"uaids are all made cresi-entie in cross section, in order to fit the curve 
of the wrist. 

BOXKS FOR ARROW- AND Sl'KAR POINTS 

Tlie Eskimo store and carry the thin, flat points for arrows, spears, 
and lauces in small wooden boxes, in the manufacture of which they 
display considerable ingenuity. 

A box of this kind (number 30248), from Kushunuk, is flattened and 
square in outline and made from a single i)iece of wood; the excavated 
interior is shallow; it is grooved Just below the upper edge to receive 
the sliding cover, which has a notch ou the top near one end for a 
thuiiibrest in drawing it out. On two "corners of the box a rawhide 
looj) is fastened for hanging it to the belt or for attaching it to any other 
object. 

Figure 10, plate lxii, is a long, flattened box from Cape Nome. It 
is less than an inch in height, is 7i inches long, and has a sliding 
cover. The sides and top are ornamented with a variety of incised 
cross-line patterns. 

Figure 5, plate lxii, is a long, thin box from Nunivak island, 
slightly convex above and below, pointed oval at one end and truncated 
at the other. It has a long, narrow cover, fitting like a stopper and 
resting at each end on a sunken ledge, and a thumb-piece for raising it 
projects at the rear. On the upper side of the front end of the box are 
incised the outlines of the mouth, nostrils, and eyes of some animal. 

Figure 1, plate lxii, from Pikmiktalik, is a rudely oval box, grooved 
around the sides and along the bottom, but otherwise is not ornamented. 

Figure -i, plate lxii, represents a box, from Oape Nome, fashioned iu 
the ibrm of a fish known as the losh. The eyes are formed by small 
ivory pegs with the centers excavated for the pupils; the gill openings 
are marked by incised crescentic lines; the mouth is incised, and the 
tail is represented as doubled and lying forward midway along the 
body. It has a long, oval, stopper-like cover resting on a sunken ledge 
at each end. 

Figure 0, plate lxii, shows a box, from Askinuk, iu the shape of a 
seal. The eyes and the mouth are incised and the front flippers are 
in relief; the cover is a long-pointed oval in outline and fits into the 
side, thus differing from the ordinary method of fitting it either in the 
upper or the under surface. 

Figure 3, plate lxii, illustrates a box, from Norton sound, rei)resent- 
ing a seal in flattened outline. The head is well made, the eyes and 
nostrils being formed by inlaid pieces of ivory. The cover represents 
another seal, the i>roJecting head and neck forming the thumb piece 
for raising it. The eyes and the nostrils' are marked by ivory pegs. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ElGHTrCNTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. LXll 




BOXES FOR ARROWPOINTS AND PAINTS 'One-fifth> 



NELSON] PROJECTILE-POINT HOXES— Fl|;i:.\i;.MS KI.'J 

A box (inuiil>.'r(itL>i.'0) from the I )i.muMi(. ishuxls r.-,„vsciits a ru.io 
Leavilyiiiade (ifruic of a ri-ht whale cut rioiii a i)i,.,v ,.f wood- the 
mouth and Wowlioles arc incised: the h)\ver surface of the l).,dv !>; 
excavated, foniiin}; a sonicwliat rounded, ((luical oiilice on whicli li'ts i 
stopperlike cover in the shape of a seal; this is iu.],! i„ ,,hfe hv ,uean*s 
of a rawhide cord passing- through a hole in the iiinh-r surface of tlie 
wliale, thence thron.iih two holes in the shoulders of tlie seal, and is 
fastened on the under surface. Toward the rear of the seal's back a 
loop of cord is attached, the end of whiidi passes through a h(de iu 
the tail of the wliale and through wliicU the cord is i)assed for tasten- 
iiig-. This box is a kind of fetich in which are kept the small spear- 
aud lauce-piiints used iu killing whales. 

A box (number C3L'«S) exactly like tlie lueceding was obtained ou 
iSt Lawrence island. 

Figure L', plate LXII, .shows a flattened oval box. from Cape Nome 
representiug a .seal with a smaller one on its l)ack; tlie latter forms a 
long, pointed, oval cover; the eyes of the larger .seal are iudicated by 
blue beads. The top of the box is crossed by a series of parallel 
lines extending from the middle diagonally backward toward the 
border. 

FIREARMS 

Although primitive forms of weapons are still largely used, guns are 
common everywhere among the Eskimo. The guns obtained by them 
during the early period of their contact with tiie Kussians were 
extremely clumsy, and the Russians brought with them the forked 
supports lor these weapons which they were accustomed to use iu 
Siberia. In some of the iiion; retired parts of the country between the 
lower Yukon and the Kuskokwim these supports still exist, as the poor 
quality of the guns and the .scarcity of ammunition render its aid nec- 
essary in hunting to secure a fair degree of accuracy and success. 

Figure 31, plate LXiir, illustrates one of these forked supports, from 
Chalitmut, having two legs tipped with ivory points and a crossbar of 
ivory to hold them iu jiosition. Along each of the three outer faces of 
these legs is a groove in which small, round, ivory pegs are set at inter- 
vals; at the ujiper end the siqiport has a rounded head in which is a 
deej) slot; through the sides is a hole in which fits an ivory iiiu. fas- 
tened by a rawhide cord. A deerhorn disk is fitted inio the slot and 
is held in place by a pin; it has a long, tlatteued projection on oik' side 
which is grooved to receive the gun barrel and has tiiree holes for the 
lashings by which it was secured; as this disk moved freely on the ]iin 
the support folded down parallel to the gunstoclc wiien being carried, 
and could be readily set iu position when needed. 

Figure 24, iilate LXIII, from Ivigiktauik: figure l.'.") of the same jilate, 
from Chalitmut; and figure 2(i, from Kusliunuk. illustrate exainiiles of 
the pieces of deerhorn intended for .securing the lower side of the gun 
barrel to connect the forked rest with the gun. 



1(;4 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. ann. 18 

Fiuuro 8, plate LXiii, rei)reseiits a ])air of bullet molds, from Cbalit- 
mut, made from two .small blocks of slate neatly hollowed out and set 
in wooden blocks, united by pins and corresponding holes so that the 
faces of the molds are brought squarely together; there is a conical 
hole at the top by means of which lead can be poured into the mold. 

Fio-nre 10, plate LXIII, represents a bullet starter, from Cape Van- 
couver, for use in muzzle-loading guns; it is made of wood and has a 
bone handle. Figure 15, plate LXili, shows another bullet starter 
made entirely of bone, which was obtained at Auogogmut. 

Nearly all the guns in use at present among tlie Eskimo are muzzle- 
loaders, and the ingenuity of the natives is displayed in the many 
forms of cap boxes, powder chargers, and tlasks made by them. 

A common style of cap box is made of wood, flattened and rectangu- 
lar in shape, with a sliding cover. Some of these are plain, others 
have their surfaces cut into a variety of patterns. Figure 28, plate 
LXIII, from Pastolik; tigure 30 of the same plate, from Cape Nome; 
and tigure 29, from Sledge island, are examples of this style of box. 

Other small wooden cap boxes are rounded in cross section, broadest 
at the base, and tapering toward the top, where they are truncated 
and fitted with a wooden stopper. Figure 17, plate LXiii, illustrates 
one of these boxes, obtained at Gape Vancouver. It has a series of 
grooves around the sides. 

Figure 27, plate lxiii, from Kushunuk, is a round sided box, shaped 
like a truncated cone, with a separate piece fitted in the bottom. Fig- 
ure <! of the same plate, from Kowak river, is another tapering box of 
this kind, with the top turned out to form a lip, under which is fas- 
tened a rawhide cord for attaching the box to the hunting bag. 

Another curious style of box, made to contain a few caps in each 
end, illustrated in figure 1, plate lxiii, was obtained at St Michael. 
It is a long, cylindrical box, largest in the middle and tapering toward 
both ends, which are truncated. It consists of two pieces, excavated, 
neatly fitted together, and fastened by sinew cords. Extending cross- 
wise through the middle is a wooden pin for the attachment of the cord 
which fastens the box to the hunting bag. A little woodeu stoiiper is 
inserted in each end. 

Other cap boxes are made of ivory, cut into various forms, with a 
stopi)er in one end and tlie other closed by a piece of wood which is 
held in position by rivets. Figure 4, plate lxiii, from Cape Nome; 
figure 5 of the same plate, from Norton sound; figure 7, from Nubviuk- 
chugaluk; and figure 2, from Kaviak peninsula, illustrate specimens 
of these boxes. 

I'owder chargers are even more varied in form, and show more inge- 
nuity in design than the cap boxes. 

Figure 3, plate LXiii, is a small charger, made of bone, with a long, 
round, wooden cap box attached to it by a sinew cord. It was obtained 
at Norton bay. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



tir.HTFENTH ANNUAL REPOflT 




OBJECTS USED WITH GUNS AND IN HUNTING one-FIFTHi 



"'■^'•^•'•"•'l POWDEK ClIARGKRS 1(55 

Figure 14, plate lxiii, represents a rounded bone diarucr from 
Hotliani inlet. It has an ornamental device of circles and dois and 
the raven totem etehed niion its surface. 

I'igure 18, plate lxiii. from Unalaklit. lias it.s lower cn.i carved into 
the form of a human head. 

Figure 12, plate lxiii, from ('ajM' \'ancouver. represents a cormo- 
rant's head. 

Figure 11, plate lxiii. from Gape ^■ancouver. rei.resents tlie head of 
a skua- gull. 

Figure !), plate lxiii, from Sledge island, is a cylindrical ivory 
charger with a knob on the lower end. 

Figure 1.3, plate lxiii. from St l.awreme island, is rounded with a 
small, spoutdike projection on the rim. 

Figure 10, plate lxiii. from Gajie Vancouver, represents a falcon's 
head. 

Figure 20, plate lxiii, from Sledge island, is a rounded bone charger 
with a wooden stopper; it is intended for carrying a charge of powder 
ready for putting in the gun when needed. 

Figure 19, plate lxiii, represents a jiowder Hask obtained at Kot/.e- 
bue sound; it is made from a section of deerhorn. excavated and fitted 
with a wooden stopper at each end; one of these is perforated and a 
small plug of wood inserted, by reiimving which an inlet is formed 
lor the i>owder. A charger of deerhorn is attached to the tlask by a 
sinew cord. 

Figure 23, plate lxiii, from Cape Vancouver, is a wooden powder 
flask in the form of a sea parrot's head. The small end at tlie neck is 
bound together with sinew lashings, and a rounded stoiii)er is titted in 
the h')le. 

I'^igure 22. plate LXiii, fiom yulukhtnloguiiiut, shows a small, leather- 
covered flask with an ivory moutli[)iece in wiiicli a woo(h-n stoi)per is 
litted ; to this is attached an ivory charger in the shape of a cormorant's 
head. With this charger is a small ivory disk, having a conical perfora- 
tion in the center, which is intended to be ])laced over the nipi)Ie of the 
gun for i)riming it. 

The form of b()th of the preceding flasks is an imitation of those 
sold by the fur traders. 

Figure 21, plate lxiii. from Sledge island, is a wooden powder Ihisk 
with the sides carved in a twining pattern. 

Figure 32, plate lxiii, from Norton bay. is a wooden tlask litted at 
each end with an ivory cover and having an iron tiii at the no/./lc. 

The Eskimo of Plover bay ou the Siberian shore and on St Lawrence 
island, as well as tliose along the shores of IJering strait :.nd thence up 
the Alaskan coast to I'oint liarrow, are successful iiunters of the right 
whale; for this i)nri)ose the old-fasliioned barbed s|)ear is the weapon 
ordinarily used, but it is being suju'rceded by lireaniis wherever the 
people have beeu able to obtain them. At Plover bay the natives had 



ICC) THK ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (eth.ann. 13 

ii bomb gnu wliicli tliey bad obtained from some wbaler. While on a 
sunimer (uuist' on a wlialiug sliip some of the nieu bad learned the use 
of tliis fjiui and tliey took tbe earliest opportunity to obtain one; in tbe 
fall it was planted on tbe ice near the entrance to the bay, and as the 
whales swam slowly along the narrow lead that remained open in 
midcliannel the bomb lances were tired into them without any lines 
attached. This was always done while the whales were heading up the 
bay, so that they might swim as far as possible toward the head of the 
bay and die under the ice; a few days later the gases would inflate 
their bodies to such an extent that the carcasses would burst through 
the ice and indicate their i)osition to the people, who would at once cut 
them up, using the blabber for food and keeping the whalebone to be 
traded to the whalers in the spring. The people at Point Barrow have 
also used a whaling gun for some time. 

The walrus is found on many parts of the coast, but is rarely seen 
near St Michael; about Nunivak island and the coast of the adjacent 
nuiinland it is caught during fall and spring. Xear the mouth of the 
Kuskokwim the hunters endeavor to surprise herds of walrus in the 
shallow bays along the coast. When they succeed, they form a line of 
kaiaks between the animals and the sea, and by shouting and striking 
the sides of the kaiaks with their paddles, so alarm them that they are 
driven ashore, where they are easily killed. In the fall of 18711 thirty 
of these animals were captured by a drive of this kind just south of 
Cape Vancouver. This method, however, can be employed only where 
the water is very shallow, so that the walrus can not esca[)e by diving 
and passing beneath the kaiaks. 

Although spears and lances ai'e still used in walrus hunting, as fire- 
arms become more i)lentiful among the natives many of these ani- 
niids are shot with rifles, which are used in addition to the old-style 
weapons for killing the beluga or white wliale. This animal is some- 
times stranded at low water and is then easily killed. These whales 
are treated with great respect by the Eskimo, and when one is taken 
certain ceremonies must be observed to avoid offending it. At 8t 
Michael I saw the hunters haul a recently killed beluga ashore, and 
before it was completely dragged out of the water one of them poured 
some urine in its mouth and then addressed several sentences to its 
shade in propitiation for having killed it. At Point Hope one was 
killed during tiie visit of the revenue cutter Gorwin to that place in 
the sunimer of ISSl, and while it was being drawn -ashore the people 
gathered on the beach and sang a song of welcome such as is used'in 
the kashim during certain dances. 

HUNTINtf 1!A<tS AND HELMETS 

Dunting bags are made in various forms and are worn by a strap 
over the shoulders; in them the hunters carry their powder, bullets, 
cap boxes, and other small articles needed in the chase. Bags of this 
kind made from the skins of wolves' heads are highly prized. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG 




HUNTING HELMETS, VISORS. AND SNOW GOGGLES 



'"■:'-S"^l HUNTING HA(iS AXIl 1 1 F, I , M KTS IQ-J 

Figure :V^, plate LXiii. fioin St Micluii^l. is siidi a bag made fiDin 
the skins of two wolves' heads, homid around the edge with le.l Man- 
uel and lined with white eotton. A shonldci- stiaj) made ..i' u iiite 
cotton and ornanienteil with stiteliing oC red worsted is atlaelied to it 

At St Jliehael 1 obtained a long, slender hunting bag i number .{si.-.s) 
made of alternating strips of white and brown deerskin, with a (ringe 
of the same cut in little strii)s around the lower encU It is bordered 
above by a trimming of skin from a loon's throat, which is sueceeded 
by ornamental bands of deerskin and a stri|) of wolverine fur. 

The people of the seaeoast between Yukon and Knskokwini rivers 
nse e(mical wooden helmets to protect their eyes from tiie glare of I ho 
sun when hunting at sea; these are ornamented with carved ivorv 
images or are painted with various devices. 

At Kushunuk were .seen many of these hats which were ])ainteil 
white, on which were various phallic ])ictnres in red; these pictmes 
had a certain significance connected with the religious beliefs of the 
people, which I failed to ascertain. The same idea was shown in a 
phallic picture on a pair of paddles obtained at this village, each of tlie 
two having one-half of the i)ictnre upon it, so that it was comideted 
by joining them at their edges. 

From the mouth of the Yukon northward, wnoden visors are used to 
shade the eyes; these are .somewhat similar in .shape to the helmets 
but they lack the conical top; the fore]>ieces of the visor.s are otten 
ornamented with ivory carvings an<l have at the back a ]ilume of 
feathers from the tails of old stpiaw ducks. 

Figure 22, plate LXiv, represents one of these conical helmets from 
Kushunuk. It has a strip of deerhorn lashed around the base at the 
rear to hold the bent einls in iiosition. On both sides ar(^ fastened, by 
sinew cord passed through holes, wing like pieces of ivory, carved with 
oi)en-work pattern and ornamented with groups of <;oncentrii; circles, 
with a central hole in each. On the middle of the Iront are two carved 
walrus heads of ivory, and on each side of these are two ivory stri()s 
representing heads of gulls. The outer suiface ol' this helmet is 
painted slate color splashed with white. 

Another helmet, from Ivaialigamut (ligure "JO, plati^ LXiv). is without 
ivory ornaments on the front. It is helil together at the back by a 
strij) of deerhorn pierced with holes, through whi(di i)ass lashings of 
cord; the edges, where they are held t(»gether in the rear, are fastened 
together with spruce-root lashings. The outer surface is painted white 
and decorated with red figures; bordering grooves on the top and 
bottom are also red. 

The visors worn by the jieople of Norton sound and the lower Yukon 
are usually plain, but .sometimes are made to rei)resent the head of 
some animal. They consist of a fillet of wood jjassing aiound the back 
of the head, with the front carried out to form a long, rounded fore- 
piece. 

Figure 21, plate LXiv, illustrates one of these unornamented visors. 



;lf;S THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ethann. is 

^vliifli was obtained at Razbinsky. It has a groove, aroniid tlie edge 
and a dec]), broad groove down the front; at the rear tlie overlapping 
ends are lashed together with willow bark. The specimen from St 
IMichael, shown in i)late Lxrv, 15, is more heavily made. On the middle 
of the front is a groove. The front is carried ont to represent the head 
of a i)il<e, with a mouth formed by a dee])ly incised groove, in which 
are set nnmcroiis small reindeer teeth; two deep holes represent the 
nostrils, and two amber colored beads are inlaid for eyes. One side of 
tiie visor is black, the other side is not colored. Visors from the shore 
of Norton sound are sometimes ornamented with ivory figures lashed to 
their sides and front, like the helmets from south of the Yukon mouth. 

Figure 18, plate LXiV, illustrates a visor of this kind, which has a 
wing-like piece on each side and the head of a gull in front; the 
median ridge is ornamented with the ivory images of two walrus 
heads. The back of the visor has an oval ring of shavings projecting 
upward and stuck full of feathers from the tails of cormorants and 
old wife ducks. 

Figure 2, plate LXIV, from Chalitmut; figure 19 of the same i)late, 
from Norton bay; and figure 17, from Sledge island, represent visors 
made from pieces of wood, with a rawhide strip or cord attached on 
each side for passing over the back of the head. The first specimen 
mentioned is painted black on both sides and has a series of ivorj' pegs 
and white beads inlaid in two rows on the upper surface. The visor 
shown in plate LXiv, 19, has a shallow groove, painted red, around the 
upper edge; inside of this is a deep, narrow groove, which, with the 
remainder of the visor, is uncolored. The third specimen (plate lxiv, 
17) has the lower part of the visor, a band around the edge, and a 
long, oval groove down the front, painted black. A shallow groove, 
extending around the borders above and below inside the black line, is 
colored red. 

The ornamentation of helmets with ivory carvings varies but little in 
the several localities. I'snally there is a long. Hat, wing-shape piece 
on each side and the head of a bird in front; the middle is occupied 
by carvings of walrus heads or figures of other animals. 

The following specimens, shown in figure 45, illustrate some of the 
ornaments: 

Number 8 represents one of the wing-shape pieces from Shaktolik, 
with open-work pattern and a series of circles and dots. Number 7 
shows one of the ivory strips obtained at Kushunuk; it is carved to 
represent the head of a cormorant. Another, from Askinuk (number 
0), represents the head of a gull. A specimen from St .Michael (num- 
ber 5) is an ivory walrus head for the front of a helmet. Another, 
from Kushunnk (number o), rei)resents a land otter, the eyes of which 
are rei)resented by inlaid blue beads, and similar beads are inlaid in 
the ('enters of circles etched along the back. A thin band of deerhorn 
from the lower Yukon (number 2) is flattened on one side and beveled 



KELSON) HELMET 0HXAMKNT8 — S\()W GOCcl.IvS Ifi!) 

to three faces on the other; it is i)ieree(l witli lioh's, in pairs, to receive 
the hishiiigs. with which it is i.ound on tiie hnclc oCu helmet (o holii the 
bent ends of tlie wood in jtosition. A walrus liead. cut from ivory, from 
Kushunulc (.Museum number 3871!»i, is for ornamenting tlie front of a 
hnutiny helmet. A similar ornament from Anogojiinut i number 1) 
rei)reseiits the flattened ima,t;c of a seal, with eyes formed by inlaid 
blue beads. Another of these ornaments (number J), from the lower 
Yukon, is a tiattened, conventionalized ima^e of a wolf. Aloui; the 



back and the sides it is ornamented with etched lines and a series of 
three pairs of concentric- circles, each liavinj,' a wooden peg inserted in 
a central hole 

SNOW (iOCtiLlOS 

To preserve the eyes from the glare of the sun on the snow in the 
spring and thus i)revent snow blindness, goggles arc in general use 
among the Eskimo. They vary considerably, according to locality, but 
the specimens illustrated give the princi|)al variations in form among 
those collected. 

Figure 5, plate LXIV, represents a llattcncil. finincl shape specimen 
of these goggles, obtained from the lower Yukon. The jirojecting 
front extends out both above and below in a gradual slope to the edges 



170 THE KSlvIMO AliOL'T UEKING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

oln single 1)io;h1 slif, the iipjter border slightly overliangiug the lower. 
Tlicy have a romided notch for fltting' over the nose, and are held ia 
l)ositit>n by a cor<l which passes over the back of the head. A speci- 
men from i'oiiit Hope, shown in ])late LXiv, 11, is somewhat similar to 
the jjreceding, except that the slit is smaller and tiie upjier front bor- 
der ])rqjects fartiier beyond the lower. 

Another ))air from the Lower Yukon (plate LXiV, 4) have two narrow 
slits divided in the middle by a septum. A notch is cut on the inner 
surface for the nose, and the front is carved in slight relief to represent 
a liuman face, with the nose between the eye slits. The forehead i)ro- 
Jei^ts at the eyebrows to form a visor-like edge. Tiic inside and top of 
the goggles are ])ainted black and the front red. 

A pair from Norton sound (tigure (i, plate LXiv) have two slits, a 
notch for the nose resting against a strong septum in the middle, and 
a visor-like projection along the top in front. The goggles from Sabot- 
nisky (figure 13, plate LXiv) have a notch for the nose and two flat- 
tened eye slits divided by a rudely made septum. The top is grooved 
to represent hair, and a nose is shown between the slits, giving them 
a mask-like appearance. They are painted red in front, but are not 
colored behind. 

Figure 8, plate LXiv, represents spectacle-shape goggles from Cape 
Darby, with two narrow eye slits and a visor-like projection in front. 
Tliere is a deep groove for the nose and the ontline is narrowed in the 
middle, so tliat the eyepieces are suboval in sliape. 

Another pair (figure 1, plate LXiv), from Norton bay, are still more 
like spectacles than the preceding, being greatly narrowed in the mid- 
dle between the two slits for the eyes. The front slopes gently to the 
borders of the slits and there is no visor. Another example of neatly 
made goggles (figure 0, plate LXiv), also obtained at Norton bay, are 
narrowed in the middle with two narrow slits and a visor in front. 
The upper borders of the eyepieces are deeply notched to permit the 
circulation of air about tiie eyes. The pair shown in figure 3, plate LXiv, 
are also from Norton bay. They consist of two suboval eyepieces, held 
together by two sinew cords which are strung with beads. Each of 
these eyepieces has a long, narrow eye slit. 

Figure 14, plate LXiv, represents spectacleshape goggles from 
Kushunuk; they are fashioned to extend forward, surrounding the 
large, oval eyeholes in a flattened, tubular form ; the insides of the eye- 
holes are painted bla(^k,as is the ui)i)er portion of the outside, with the 
exception of the borders of tiie eyelioles which are red. 

A specimen from St Lawrence island, figure 12, plate LXiv, consists 
of a trough-shape piece of wood, concave within and convex ou the 
outside; it is somewhat crescentic in form, with a notch on the lower 
side for the nose; the eyeholes are straight within against the wooden 
crossbar or septum which divides tliem. and their outer edges are oval; 
they are large, and without any anangcinent for shading them. 



tll.HI^ENIH .\N\MAI RtroRT PL. LX 




KNIFE SHARPENER AND DAGGER OF NEPHRITF. WITH SHEATH one-half 



NELSON] SNOW GOGCIJOS KMVK.S IJl 

A pair of goggles (fio-nre 10, i)lalo lxiv) ohtiiiiiod at Tort riiireii.-o 
bj^ Doctor T. n. Beau, are made from tlirw picct's of woo.l; Wotli ilio 
upper and lower i)ieces are j-iooved to admit tlie insettion of a frafjmciit 
of commou window glass in oaeli oval cydiole: tliey are laslied tonetlier 
with wlialeboue cord passed tlirougli liolcs: a iirojectiiig visor over- 
bangs the front; insi<le a bar of wood is hislied. wliieli is notched on 
each side over the eye to periint circulation of air. 

A clumsily made i)air from the Diomcdc ishiiids (ligiire 7, i)late LMV) 
consist of two pieces of canvas sewed together; eyeholes ate (Mit in Ilio 
middle of each, in wiiicli are inserted i)ieces of window glass; the can- 
vas is backed by a rudely formed wooden framework, rather (piadrate in 
outline. These are the only goggles of this kind that were seen. 

Figure Ki, plate lxiv, represents a pair of wooden goggles from Nor- 
ton sound; they are notched for the nose, and ijrojcct at the sides as 
long, oval ends reaching to the temples; the tnlmlar front has two large, 
oval holes, and a strip of niwliide, rounded in liont, is jjcgged to the 
upper surface to form a visor. 

HUNTINii AND SKINNINiJ KNIVES 

The stone knives formerly in univers:il use among the Eskimo have 
been almost entirely displacetl by the ordinary butcher knives .sold by 
the traders. Some of these old-fashioned Hint kiuves were procured ;tt 
Hotham inlet, and were in iictual use when obtained; they are illus- 
trated in plate xlvii, figures l!, .'i. 'i'hey consist of leaf-shai)e, chipi)ed 
flint blades, set in short wooden liaiulh's split iit the lower end to receive 
the blade which is held in i)lace by a wrajjping of rawhide or sinew 
cord, or (as in figure .'i) by a lashing of willow root. 

From the northern end of Norton sound ;» beautiful knife (plate i.xv, 15) 
was obtained. The narrow, leal-shape bladt^ of nephrite is S.\ inches iu 
length and 1!^ inches wide at its broadest part, and is slightly convex 
on one side; the other side is slightly grooved near each edge and has 
a broad, slightly elevated, Hat ridge running d<)\vn tlie center to near the 
point; it is double-edged and brought to a slightly rouiuled point. The 
handle is of ivory, oviil in cross section, .'!{ inches in length; the blade is 
set iu a slot, the sides of which overlap al)out L' inches, thiongh which 
ivory pegs are inserted to ludd it in plai-e. In the handle are seven 
b(des. through which a lawhide cord is wound ;ind crossed to afford a 
linn grip for the hand. The wooden sheath (i)late lAV, 2) follows the 
outline of the knife and extends halfway up the handle; it is in two 
parts, which are fastened together by thin striits of whalebone passed 
through holes in the edges. Across one side of the sheath, near the 
butt, are two small, parallel grooves which form tlie i)riv:ite nuirk of tlie 
owner. This specimen, from its large size and the beauty and regu- 
larity of its finish, is probably uni(pie. It was pundiased at Nuhvinkh- 
chugaluk from a Kaviak Eskimo who said that it had been an heirloom 
iu his family for many generations; althougli now of no practical utility 



172 THE ESKIMO AIIOMT BERING STRAIT [eth anx. 18 

lie prizctl it very niucli from its association, and it was only after two 
years of careful effort that I succeeded in obtaining it by paying what 
he considered a large price. Other jade knives, somewhat similar to 
this but much smaller and with less perfect blades, were also seen. 

Knives are usually worn by the Eskimo in a sheath strapped to the 
outside of tiie right tliigh,,)ust below the hip, so that the handle may 
readily be o^rasped; some of the men, however, have the sheath sus- 
pended from tiie waist belt. 

iniAd HANDLES 

Drag handles, attached to a stout permanent loop of sealskin cord, 
are used for hauling dead seals or other heavy weights over the snow 
or ice. They are made of wood, bone, ivory, or deerhorn, carved in a 
variety of forms, considerable ingenuity being exercised in adapting 
the designs to the shape of the handle and to the purpose for which it 
is to be used. 

Plate Lxvi, 10, from Kushunuk, is a cylindrical wooden handle, 
grooved around the middle for receiving the loop. 

riate LXVI, 4, from St Michael, is an ivory handle, in tiie form of a 
crossbar, with the head of a white bear carved 
on each end and a square slot crosswise through 
the middle for receiving the cord. 

I'late LXVI, IS, from Cape Darby, reijresents 
two white whales lashed together on their ven- 
tral surfaces and pierced through the middle for 
receiving the ends of the cords, which project 
through their mouths and form a loop on that end. The other ends of 
the whales terminate in a ring from which are suspended six links 
of ivory; to the last link of one of these chains is suspended a small 
carving in the form of a whale's tail. 

Plate LXVI, 14, shows a handle, from Sledge island, in the form of a 
white bear. A cord jtasses through the lower surface. 

A rounded block, carved in the form of two seals lying face to face, 
with their fore-tliri>ers along their nuizzles, is illustrated in plate lxvi, 
1. It has two holes pierced in one end which join and issue as a single 
hole at the other end. It was obtained at Unalaklit. 

Plate LXVI, 15, represents a handle, from Sledge island, in the shape 
of a white whale, which is pierced transversely for the cord. 

Figure 40 shows an ivory cord handle from Sledge island. It is an 
extremely artistic carving, representing the head of a white bear with 
a small seal in its mouth. On the lower surface of the head is a figure, 
in relief, of another seal. 

Plate LXVI, 10, shows another elaborate drag handle from Cape Darby. 
The central portion consists of a piece of ivory, pierced by two round 
holes, and a third one forming a slot through which is passed the cord 
for the loop. From one of these rings is hung, as a link, the tail of a 
whale, and from the other two chains, each consisting of eight links, 




NKi-soN] DKAfJ HAXni.KS — l'IsllIN(i j 73 

one of wliii-h tiniiiiiiates in tlie lu'ad and tmclt'-s nf a wliiio hear and 
the other in the tail and hind (ii|>i)cis of a seal. 

IMate Lxvi. 12, from 81ed.ue island, is a fonr (.ron- ivory rod. with 
white Ijears' heads carved npon two of the points and a seal's jicad on 
another; the fourth point tcrnduates in a rin.u- in which is linked a 
pendant represeutinj;' the head and shoulders of a seal. 

Plate LXVI, 1*, from (;ai)e Nome, is a small ivory handle, pierced with 
a hole at one end, which forks and terndnates in two holes on the other 
end. On one side is carved in relief the form of a seal, and on the 
other the form of a white hear. 

Plate LXVI, 17, is a handle, fashioned in the form of a whitel)ear"s 
bead, witli blue beads inlaid for eyes. The two cords form one loop, 
projecting from the bear's mouth, and on the other side tiu'y iiroject 
from separate holes at the rear. 

Plate LXVI, 11, from Sledge island, is an ivory image of a seal, with 
a hole through the back, in which is litted an ivory i)in. terndnating 
above in the flgure of a seal's head. To tlie lower end is attached the 
cord forming the loop. 

Plate LXVI, 0, from the Diomede islands, is a handle made of a bar of 
ivory, an elongated oval in outline, with a convexity near each end on 
tlie lower side and slightly excavated within. In the nnddle of this 
excavation is a hole, through which passes the cord forming a loop. 
On the upper side the cords pass through holes in two figurines of 
seals, which rest with their heads down against the outer borders of 
the bar. 

Plate LXVI, 8, from Sledge island, has i-arveil on one end the head of 
a seal and on the other that of a white bear. 

Plate LXAI, 10, from Ivot/.elme sound, is in the shape of tlie head of a 
white bear, represented as holding a seal crosswise in its mouth; it is 
pierced lengthwise on the under side for the passage of a cord. 

Plate LXVI, 7, from Kot/.ebue sound, is an elongated bar, with a 
seal's head on each end. The handle is surrounded by eight series of 
etched parallel lines. 

Plate LXVI, 3, from Cape Prince of Wales, has four images of seals 
carved iu high relief on the small ivory center through which the cord 
passes. 

Plate LXVI, 13. from Xubviukhchugaluk, is a handle in the form of a 
white-bears head, represented as hohlinga stickcrosswi.se in itsnuaith, 
and just back of this, carved from a separate i)iece, the head of a seal. 

FISUIXtr AXO FI81IIX(; nirUOIKXTS 

METHODS OK FISHINa 

Fishing forms one of the main sources of food supi)ly among the 
western Eskimo, and in its pursuit a variety of methods and imple- 
ments are employed. The fishing season along the coast of Norton 
sound opens about the end ot .March or early in April of each year: at 



174 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BEIJING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



this time the spriug tides befiiu to show along the shore, wliere tlie 
water forces its way up throiigli the cracks in the ice. During the 
colli weather of winter the touicod and the sculpin remain in deep 
water, but as spring ai)proaches they begin to return to the vicinity 
of the shore, and lioles intlie ice are made through which tliey are 
caught by means of hook and line. During May, as the weather grows 
warmer, the tomcod become extremely numerous, and at this time the 
old men and women may be seen scattered about on the ice, a few 
hundred yards from the shore, where they tish during many hours of 
the dav. Figure -17, from a ]>hotograph taken at St Michael, shows 
a man at one of the fishing holes. 




Flo. 47_T.mici«l fishing tliroiigh si>a ice :i1 Ht ilichael. 

For fishing through the ice a hole from six to eight inches in diam- 
eter is made. The ice i)ick employed for this jiurpose consists of a 
stout wooden start', usually provided with a point made from the end 
of an old chisel or a tlat ]iiece of iron; but formerly, and indeed fre- 
quently during my residence in Alaska, jiicks pointed with reindeer 
horn or ivory were iu use. 

Figure 10, plate Lxvii, illustrates one of these picks from Norton 
sound; it consists of a wooden start", nearly four feet long, terminating 
in a deerhorn point, which is lashed tirmly to the staft with cords of 
sealskin. 

As the ice is generally several feet in thickness, the hole becomes 
tilled with small fragments as the work of digging progresses. To 



TOMcoi) iisniX(; 



175 



remove tlicse. as well as to skiiii (,ut (lie lilm „r i,:,. ii,at cMistaiitIv 
forms ou eold clays, a small senop with a netted Imltoiu is used l.y tlu, 
natives of the coast from tlie mouth of tiie Kuskokwim to Koizebue 
sound. A typical specimen of an ice seoop, from .St Mieliael, is ilhis 
tratedin tigure *>, plate i,\vii. Tlie rim consists of a baud of deerhorn 
bent iuto a circle, the overlappins ends beiiiij- i)iereed and lashed 
together with rawhide cord. The upper ed--e has a Ion-, rounded 
l)oint in front; the lower edge has holes in pairs, through which is 
passed the rawhide cord, which is netted across the bottom in a hexa- 
gonal pattern. This scoop is fastened I.) the handle with a lashing ot 
sinew cord, which passes through a h()h> in the handle and over'the 
rim. The wooden handl(> is oval in cross section, and is about .U 
inches in length. 

In the vicinity of Bering strait the net of some of these implenients 
is formed of a cord made of twisted lilanients of whalebone. 

Another variety of this implement, from St Lawrence island, is illus- 
trated in tigure 8, plate Lxvil; it consists of a slightly grooved wooden 
handle, to which is attached a scoopshai)e piece of bone. Still another, 
from the same locality, is shown in tigure 7, plate Lxvii ; it is made from 
the shoulder-blade of some animal, ])ierced lu'ar its small end wiih two 
holes, through which a lashing is i)assed. which fastens it linuly to a 
wooden handle four feet in length. 

The implements used in tishing for toincod consist of a short pole, 
from 25 to .it! inches in length, and a long line made from whalebone, 
sinew, rawhide, or the feather (piills of gulls or other large waterfowl. 
These are split and worked a little to render them more pliable, and 
knotted together while moist, forming a t(nigh and durable line. On 
the lower end of the line, six to ten inciies from the bottom, a sinker 
of stone, boue, or ivory is attached, pierced at each etui for attachment 
to the line. The hooks usually have a- straight ivory or bone shank, 
with a hole at the upper end for the line, and two holes near the lower 
cud, at right angles with ea<di other, through which are thrust small, 
double-pointed iron skewers, with their ends bent ui)ward, forming a 
hook with four points. The rods are usually i)rovided near the lop 
with an ivory or bone guide, ])erforated near the tip for tlie i)assage of 
the line, and fastened to the rod by sinew cord. Tlie i>ase of the rod 
is notched, so that the line may be wound on it when not in use. In 
connection with these rods a slender stick of about the same length is 
used. It is held in the left haiul, and so numipulated as to enable the 
tisherman to bring the hook to the surface without rising from his seat 
on a mat spread ou the ice. As the lish comes to the suiface it is 
thrown to one side on the ice and disengages itself, as the hook is not 
barbed. The tisherman then gives it a rap with the stick to prevent it 
from struggling back to the hole, aiul returns his hook to the water. 
No bait is used, as the fish nibble at the while ivory shank, and are 
caught by a continued up and down movement of the hook. 

In autumn the tomcod are extremely abundant near St .Michael. At 



176 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

this season cold uortli winds generally blow and render it very uiicoin- 
fortable to remain for Lours in one position on tbe ice. To remedy this, 
small shelters are arranged, consisting of grass mats, held on a frame- 
work of sticks, to the windward of the hole. In November, soon after 
the ice is formed, a fisliennan frequently catches 200 pounds of tomcod 
in a day,, but from 10 to iO pounds is the average result of a day's 
fishing. 

Figure 24, plate Lxviir, represents an outfit for tomcod fishing, from 
Cape Nome, consisting of the two rods, a whalebone line, stone sinker, 
and hook as described. The line is guided through the notch in the 
end of the rod, which is cut in at each end so that it forms a shuttle- 
like stick, upon which the line is wound when not in use. In some 
instances the four hooks are arranged around the sinker and held in 
place by means of short, elastic leaders of whalebone or (|uill. 

Among the fishermen of Norton sound and along the American shore 
of Bering strait the lines on which these hooks are held usually pass 
througli holes in the sinker and are wedged in place. On St Lawrence 
island, sinkers are made with a hole at the bottom for suspending a 
hook, and four other holes for a similar pur[)Ose at each of the rounded 
corners. Figure 5, plate Lxviii, represents one of the sinkers from this 
island; the hooks are made of iron and have from three to four points 
on the end of a straight sliank, which is lashed to a whalebone leader 
by a sinew cord ; the upper end of the leader is passed through the holes 
in the sinker and knotted. Accompanying this specimen is the stick 
for manipulating the line when landing the fish (figure 32, plate 
LXVIII). Figure ol, plate Lxviii, illustrates another tomcod fishing 
outfit, from Norton sound, consisting of a shuttle like rod notched at 
each end and a thin rawhide line with an ivory sinker, which is in 
two parts, excavated in the middle and filled with lead; the two halves 
are held together by a lashing of whalebone; a whalebone loop extends 
from the bottom of the sinker and to it is attached a small hook made 
by lashing a small iron point across the lower end of a wlialebone 
shank; just above the sinker a leader of whalebone is attached to a line 
with a similar hook. 

Figure 28, plate LXix, represents a large sinker, from St Lawrence 
island, made from a piece of the jawbone of a whale. On two of the 
sides, a little below the middle, are holes through which pass whale- 
bone leaders about nine inches long, on which are hooks with bone 
shanks having conical knobs on the lower ends; there are three slits 
on one shank and two on the other, in which upstanding points of 
bone are inserted and fastened in position with fine cord made from 
whalebone. 

From Cape Nome was obtained an obovate ivory sinker, shown in 
figure 4, plate LXix. It has three holes in the sides, in which are inserted 
three upstanding points of ivory over an inch in length, held in ])osi- 
tion by a wrapping of fine whalebone; lower, through one side of the 




FISHING IMPLEMENTS one-fifth 



^■EL^xl TO.MCOn-FI.SIUNi. API-ARATCS I77 

siukcr, passes a whalebone leader with a small liook at each oiid; these 
hooks have an ivory shank through which is passed a pointed iron spike 
bent upward at the point. Hanginj;- from the lower end of the sinker 
is another leader of about the same length as the others with a slrai<;ht 
shanked hook of the ordinary style, with four jioints. 

The style of tonieod hook used from the Yukon mouth to the Kus- 
kokwim is illustrated in figure T.. plate i.xix. This spe.'imen. obtained 
at Askiuuk, has a louj;', round shank of dcerliorii, with a knob at the 
upper end for attachment of the line, and the lower end is enlarged 
to a doubly conical base, which lias three slits at e(|ual intervals, nar 
rowed on the outside and wideninj;- within. Above these, on the upper 
cone, are three similar slits alternating around the surface with the 
fir.stuanied. Into these slits are lifted long, slender, sharp-pointed 
spines of deerhorn, 3i to i inches in length, jirojecting upward and 
slightly outward. This hook is moved slowly up and down in the 
water, and catches the lish by piercing them fiom below while ihey 
are gathered about tlie ivory sinker. 

Figure I'l, plate Lxviii, from Cape Prince of Wales, is a common 
style of ivory-shanked tomcod hook, with four i)rojecting iron points. 
It varies from the ordinary styU^ in having the shank made in a series 
of curves instead of being straight. 

A peculiar style of tomcod hook and sinkei-, from Cape Xoine, is 
shown in ligure 10. ])late LXix. The sinker is made from an ohl. stained 
piece of ivory, fasliioned into the shape of a fish. Two blue beads are 
inserted in rings of ivory near the hiwer end to rei)resent eyes, and 
another is inlaid on the lower surface. The tail is formed of a piece of 
white ivory attached to a truncated end of the ilark material by a lash- 
ing of fine cord^ the mouth is represented by a hole, in which is a 
leader, attached to which, below the sinker, are three orange-yellow 
pieces from the bill of the crested auklet, whicli are strung on a 
fine sinew cord with two blue beads, serving to attract the tish. At 
the lower end of the leader is a hook, with the upper part of the shank 
of ivory and the lower of deerhorn. These are fastened together with 
small bone pegs and a lashing. of line cord around the Joint. At the 
base were four iron points, one of which has been broken olf. 

Figure 2(), plate lxviii, from Cajie Nome, is a rod used for fishing 
for tomcod, with an ivory line guide in the end. I'igure 20, i)late 
LXAiii, from St Lawrence island, are bone shanks for tomcod hooks, 
made with two slits on the sides at the lower end, in which may be 
inserted upright bone barbs; the upper end is broadened and llattened 
a little and i>ierced tor the attachment of a line. Mgure 22 of the 
same plate, from St Lawrence island, is a rather Hat, shuttle-shape rod, 
notched at each end and having wound upon it a long line made from 
whalebone, with a set of four tomcod hooks at the ends of leaders, 
which are of the ordinary straight shank pattern witli four barbed 
points of copper. Figure !), plate Lxviu, from St Michael, is a dcer- 
18 ETU 12 



178 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERIi\G STRAIT [ethann.is 

horn guide from a tomcod rod. Figure 12, plate LXVIII, shows another 
tip for a loiiK'od rod, from Sledge ishxud. 

Aiiotlier set of hooks and sinker from Hotham inlet are shown in 
figure 5. jilate LXix. The sinker is of greenish slate, with a rounded 
ivory ti]) at thp upper end, excavated to admit the pointed end of the 
stone, whicli is riveted in place. There are two holes in the middle of 
the stone, at right angles to each other, for the passage of the leaders. 
Onlj' a single pair of leaders are in place, the other set having been 
lost. Figures 14 and l(i, plate Lxviii, illustrate forms of tomcod hooks, 
obtained at Sfugunugumut, which are used also for catching smelts. 
When tomcod ai-e abundant along the coast in autumn and spring, 
smelts also are plentiful, and often are caught on tlie same hooks; but 
in some localities special hooks are made for taking smelts, one of 
which, from Nunivak island, is illustrated in figure 13, plate lxviii. 
This has a straight ivory shank, largest near its lower end, in which a 
recurved copper hook is set and lield in place by a wooden plug. 

"While fishing for tomcod, sculpin of several species are frequently 
caught in shallow water. A number of hooks made especially for taking 
these fish were obtained at Cape Xome. Sculpin hooks from the northern 
shore of Norton sound and from Bering strait are made from pieces of 
stone and ivory, fitted together to form an oval shank (figure 21, plate 
X.X1X). The surface of the stone is grooved to receive the ivory, wliich 
forms the lower end, and is fastened by a lashing. The hook, either of 
iron or copper, passes through the shank and the point is upturned in 
front. Tlie shank is ornamented with little tags of sinew cord at the 
lower corners, to which are attached blue beads and the sheaths from 
the bills of auklets. The stone chosen lor these hooks varies consid- 
erably, but is usually of some bright color. Sometimes the lower end 
is made also of stone of another color instead of ivory, as in the si^eci- 
men from (Jape Nome, illustrated in figure 12, plate LXIX, which is used 
also as a grayling hook. 

A sculpin hook and sinker of dark-colored stone is represented in 
figure 14, ])late lxix. It was obtained at Cape Nome. The sinker 
is pierced at the ui)per end for the attachment of the rawhide line; 
to this upper end is fastened a finely braided sinew cord, having an 
orange-yellow piece from an auklet's bill at its lower end. The other 
end of the sinker has a white ivory cap fitted over it and held in place 
by a wooden peg; in the lower end is a hole in which is a small seal- 
skin band, to which are attached some pieces of skin from the legs of 
birds, and below this extends a leader, terminating in a fiat-shank 
hook. The leader is also ornamented with a blue bead and a piece from 
the bill of an auklet. The shank of the hook is composed of three 
pieces, the upper and lower of ivory, and the middle one of stone, 
neatly fitted in grooves in the ivory and fastened by a lashing; a single- 
point copper barb is inserted through the shank and bent upward 
in front. In the truncated base of the ivory of the shank are two 
holes below the place where the hook is inserted, to which are hung 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




FISHHOOKS AND SINKERS uNt-FiFTH 



KELSON] KISHINC TACKLK [79 

two short sinew cords, on each of which is strung a blue bead ami an 
orange-colored piece from the bill of an auidet. Tiiesc various orna- 
uieuts are intended as lures tor the (ish. Another of these sculpiu 
hooks from Cape Nome is shown in ligure 22, plate Lxix. It is 
attached by a leader to a small ivory sinker, which is yellow on one 
side and blackened on the other; ou the dark side are inserted two 
white ivory eyes with a dark colored wooden plug in the center cf each 
to represent the pupil. On the other side is a hole for attaching the 
leader; small bits of red llaunel are fastened to this end lor lures. The 
other end terminates in a llatlened i)oint,in which is a hole for the line. 
Strung ou the leader is a blue bead and an orange yellow piece from 
the bill of an auklet. The shank, which lias near the end two holes 
for the line, is made from deerhorn and tlatteued. becoming larger 
toward the lower end, where an oblong jiiece of ivory is inserted Just 
back of the point of the hook, which is a single, shari)pointed iron 
barb inserted through the lower end of the shank and bent upward in 
front. At each of the lower corners of the shank is a short sinew 
cord, ou which are strung a blue and a white bead and an orange 
sheath from the bdl of an auklet. 

Another sculpin hook from the same locality is represented in ligure 
iS, plate LXIX. It is made from a stout i)iece of iron, the ends bent 
together and the points sharpened and ui)turued. It is attached to a 
sinker of gneiss, which is elongated-oval in shape and I'astened to the 
line by a lashing of whalebone, which passes around it from end to end. 
A small hook from Sledge island (figure 20, plate lxix) is made from 
two pieces of ivory joined by a snmll connecting rod, on which is 
strung a Hat blue bead. It is shaped to represent a fish. At the lower 
end are two small, dark-colored wooden pegs set in to represent eyes. 
A short copper hook projects on the inside. Another sculpiu hook, 
from Cape 2S'ome (number 4."ili81i, is made iu three pieces. The lower 
part is of dark chocolate-colored stone, the middle of reddish granite, 
and the upper part of ivory. They are lashed together iu the usual 
manner. 

For catching salmon trout and the large-tin grayling, small, orna- 
mented hooks are made of stone and ivory. These hooks are sinular 
iu character to those used for catching smelts and sculpiu along the 
shore of Norton sound and the coast of Bering strait. Oue of these 
grayling hooks from Cape Nome is shown in ligure 12, i)late lxix. It 
is made from two pieces of stone, the upper of which is chocolate- 
color and the lower reddish white. They are neatly joined together 
and held in position by a sinew lashing, which jiasses through a hole iu 
one piece and around a groove ah)ug the middle line of the other. A 
small iron pin is passed through the lower part of the shank and curves 
upward in front to form the hook. Attached to the ufipcr and lower 
ends of the shauk are orange-yellow sheaths froui the beak ol an 
auklet. the lower end having also a blue bead. 

Figure 21, plate lxix, represents two hooks from the Diomede 



18t) 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERINU STRAIT 



[ETH.ANN, 18 



islands. One is similar in form and ornamentation to the last pre- 
cedinj;- specimen, but tbe lower portion is of yellowish bone and the 
ui)per part of greenish-gray stone. The other is similar in shape, but 
the upper half of the shank is of white ivory, with two encircling- 
grooves in which narrow strips of skiu from the legs of an auklet are 
bound, and the lower half of the shank is of dark-colored ivory. A 
grayling hook from Unalaklit (tigure 48) has a leader of whalebone. 
The white ivory shank has a dull green spiral band, produced by stain- 
ing the ivory in some unknown manner. 

Figure 3(1, plate LXix, lepresents a set of hooks from the lower Yukon, 
which are intended for catching losh. They have tapering wooden 
shanks, split at the lower end to receive the butts of long wooden or 
deerhorn points, which are lashed in position with siiruce 
root. Most of these hooks are provided with rawhide 
leaders, but one leader is made from a strip of whalebone. 
They are held together by thrusting the points into a 
rounded mass of fine shavings bound together with a 
strip of spruce root. 

A hook from the Lower Yukon (figure 15, plate Lxviii) 
has an obovate shank of deerhorn, with a spur-like barb of 
iron thrust through the lower end. The upperend is taper- 
ing, flattened, and pierced with a hole for the reception of a 
line. Hooks of this kind are used for small whitefish and 
losh in the streams back from the coast. A losh hook from 
the head of N^orton bay (figure 17, plate lxix) has an obo- 
vate shank of ivory, bored across through tbe shank and 
filled with lead to give additional weight. The lower end 
has a hole through which is thrust a small, double-point 
rod of iron, bent upward at the ends to form two barbs. 
A hook used for catching large whitefish or nelma (tig- 
ure 10, plate LXVIII ) was obtained at Paimut. It has a 
curved deerhorn shank, broadening toward the lower 
iiouk (i). ° 6"^^; i'^ which are incisions representing the mouth and 
eyes of a fish. Between the eyes is inserted a strong 
iron barb, bent upward at the point. The upper end of the shank is 
forked like the tail of a fish, and has a hole for the line. A hook for 
catching pickerel and whitefish, illustrated in figure 19, plate lxviii, 
is from Unalaklit. The shank is broad and flattened toward the uppea* 
end, where it has two holes for attachment of the line. The edges are 
serrated. Kear the lower end it is slender and has an upcurled barb 
of iron fastened with a lashing of sinew cord. Another hook, obtained 
at Sledge island, is somewhat similar to the i>receding, but the barb, 
instead of being fastened by a lashing, is inserted through a hole in 
the shank, the upper portion of which is broad and has only two 
notches on the sides (figure 11, plate lxviii). Two hooks, from St 
Michael, used for catching wolf fish, illustrated in figures 9 and 11, 




NK'-«»i FISH HOOKS AXn PIXKEKS 1,91 

plate LXix, are attached to ronmled. taporiii;::- sinkoisof ivory. One 
of them has a deerhorii sliaiik, serrated on tlie cdoi-s, witli a stout 
iron barb inserted throuuli the lower end. The other hook has a 
rude, straight shank, made from a s(ick alioiu four inches in hiiuili, 
with a notch at the upper end for attachiny- tlie line, whicli jiasses 
downward to the lower end. where a i)ointed si)ine of deerhoni is 
lashed obliquely across it. Another variety of hook is a rudely made 
specimen from St Lawrence island (tij;urt' 2."), plate i.xix). It is cut 
from a jnece of walrus ivory and is i)rovided with a lonjf barbed [mint. 
It was used for catching wolf lisli, but jaobably both this and the two 
preceding- examples were also used for cod-lishing. 

A similar hook from the same locality is shown in tigure L".i, plate 
LXix. In this case, however, the shank is of wood with a barbed point 
of bone fitted in a slot at the base. The U])per end of the shank has a 
bole for attaching the whalebone line. This hook was used probably 
for catching codfish. An outtit for catching wolf fish, illustrated in tig- 
ure 27, plate lxviii, was obtained at the head of Norton sound. It 
consists of a shuttle-like rod, 2S inches in length, on wliieh is wound a 
rawhide line, near the end of which a rounded jjiece of lava, reddish 
in color, is fastened with a basket lashing. The hook has a straight 
deerhorn shank, to the lower end of which is lashed crosswise an iron 
nail with the projecting end ])ointed. In the fork between the hook and 
the shank a kind of bait composed of sinew-like material is secured 
by a lashing. Figure 28, plate lxviii. shows a similar outtit from Nor- 
ton sound, with the sinker made of a rounded granite jiebble grooved 
at each end for the attat-hment of the rawhide lashing Another out- 
fit (figure 25, plate lxviii), from Norton sound, lor catching blaeklish 
[T)aUl(i) is a long, slender, shuttle like rod 2(1 inches in length, on which 
is wound a short line of sinew with a small hook at one end. This 
hook has a straight, rounded ivory shank and is i)rovided with a 
pointed iron pin through the lower end, witli the tip upcurved. 

^^long the .shore of Bering sea and the adjacent Arctic coast con- 
siderable ingenuity is dis])layed by the people in nuiiiufacturing sink- 
ers for fishing lines, and a great variety are made. Imh- several species 
of fish the .sinker is intemled to attract the lish, as well as to .serve as 
a weight for the line, aiul is made of a variegated white and dark 
colored stone. Other sinkers, of ivory, have a i)ortioM of the surface 
blackened, and some of the stone sinkers have an ivory cap. .\ large 
collection of these objects was obtained, from whicli tyjiical examples 
have been selected for illustration. 

A specimen from the Diomede islands (figure .■J2, plate i.xim is a 
piece of bone, discolored to a chocolate brown, pierced with a hole and 
grooved near the upper end to receive the line. The lowei' end has 
a hole for fastening the leader fi)r the hook. The lower end repivsents 
the head of a fish, with an incision for tiie mouth: a blue bead r.-jn-e- 
seuts one eye and a piece of lead tlieoth.r. Anniher example from 



1,C.2 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. ann. 18 

tlie same locality (figure 10, plate LXix) is a loug, oval stone with a 
rouiuled ivory cap, lielil in position by a deerhorn pin passed tlirougb 
both substances. A hole for tlie line is in the upper end of the ivory 
cap and another iu the lower end of the stone portion. A similar 
sinker flignre 1, jilate lxix) was obtained at Port Clarence by Dr 
Pall. It is made from a piece of granite and has a cap of chocolate- 
color ivory, lield in i)osition by an iron rivet through the two pieces; 
the ivory portion has a flattened point, and on the sides a pair of eyes 
are represented by two inlaid rings of ivory, in which blue beads are 
set. A similar sinker, from Cape Nome (figure 7, plate LXix) is made 
of stone, with a small ivory cap fastened by a rivet. The long, round 
stone sinker shown in figure -'7, plate lxix, was obtained on Sledge 
island. It tapers below to a blunt ])oint, where it is pierced for a 
leader. The upper end is truHcated, ami has fitted on it a long, round 
tail-like piece of ivory, lashed in position with a strand of whalebone 
jiassed through holes in the two parts. In the stone is a hole to 
receive a long leader for two hooks. Another sinker, of variegated 
black and white stone, from the same locality (figure 20, plate lxix), 
Las an ivory cap fastened with a lashing i^assed through a hole in the 
lower end of the ivory and around a groove in the stone. A black 
and white stone sinker from Cape Nome (figure 23, plate lxix) has 
been broken in the middle and neatly mended with a strong lashing of 
whalebone passed througli two holes and around a deep groove in the 
sides. A small sinker of greenish stone from Sledge island (figure 10, 
plate LXIX) is rudely shaped to represent a fish, having ivory pegs 
with black centers inlaid for eyes. It has a small hole at each end for 
attaching the lines. Another specimen from the same locality (figure 
13, plate LXIX) is a handsome sinker of variegated white and brown 
stone, with a deep groove on each side near the ends, in which holes 
are bored for attaching the lines. The black and white ivory sinker 
shown in figure 18, plate lxix, was obtained on Nuuivak island. Eyes, 
also black and white in color, are inlaid in the black upi)er surface. 

The black and white, fiattened stone sinker shown in figure (!, plate 
LXIX, is from Cape Nome. A long ivory sinker from Hotliam inlet (figure 
15, plate LXIX) has a hole at each end; the upper end is surrounded by 
four grooves and raven totem marks. On one side is a rude etching 
representing a framework for drying fish. The bone sinker from St 
Lawrence island, shown in figure 31, ]date LXix, is triangular in cross 
section and x>ierced at the upper end for the line; on the lower half, 
at each of the angles, is an ear containing a hole for attaching a leader. 
Another example from the same place (figure 33, plate LXix) is a rude 
bone sinker, roughly obovate in shape, with a hole at the upper end 
for a line and two ear-like projections near the lower end for attaching 
leaders. A heavy ivory sinker (figure 2, plate lxix) was obtained at 
Plover bay by Mr W. M. Noyes. It has holes around the sides and the 
bottom for attaching leaders. The ui)per end is oval in cross section 
and tapers to a thin, flat point, pierced for the line. About the base 



NELsnxl SINKERS, SEINE?, AND TKAI'S IgS 

are three upright spines, proiocting .slightly oiitwanl, caived tV.>ni iho 
same piece, which serve as ;\<hlitioTuil hooks for captming lisli iliat 
may gather around, attracted by the wliite ivory. This sinker lias 
been used iu fishing for tonicod and other small fish. In the deep 
water oft" the headhinds, from (lolofniu bay to Cape Nome, large crabs 
are very abundant; sometimes specimens are seen measuring three feet 
from tip to tip of their ontstretclied claws. They ar(^ caught during 
:March and April by the use of a bait of dead fish tied to tlie end of a 
line aud sunk to the bottom through a. hole in tln> i<;e. In March, 1880, 
uear Cape Darby, I saw large numbers of people fishing for crabs by 
this method, aud on the lOth of March, west of Cape Darby, I found a 
party of about twenty-five people, from Sledge island, who had been 
starved out at home and were cami)ing there, living on the tomcod and 
crabs, which were abundant. Their crab lines were fastened to small 
sticks set in the snow beside the holes in the ice, thus enabling one 
person to watch several holes. When the crab seized the bait the 
stick was moved sufficiently to attract the attention of the watcher, 
who at once drew iu his line. Small snow shelters were built beside 
the boles to protect the fishermen from the wind; they were open on 
one side aud had a crescentic base with the convexity toward the direc- 
tion of the wind, while some of them were jiartially archeil over. The 
crabs were so plentiful that one day, soon after my arrival, a man and 
a woman came in bringing about two hundred pounds, which tiiey had 
taken during the day. 

As soon as the ice leaves the coast of Nortim sound, in June, herrings 
arrive and spawn on the seaweetl aI)out the rocky points and shores of 
the small bays. At this time many of them are caught by means of 
small seines made from rawhide or sinew cord; but about the latter 
part of June commences what to these people is tlio most important of 
all fishing seasons. This is the time for tlie arrival of the salmon. Tlie 
king salmon enter the rivers first, and are folIowe<l during the season 
by two or three smaller species of inferior ([uality. Along the entire 
coast, from the Kuskokwira to Point Harrow and up Kuskokwim and 
Yukon rivers, the Eskimo are very busy during July and August 
catching and curing these tish. The cleaning is done by tlie women. 
The fish are split from the head to the base of the tail, the entrails 
removed, aud the fish thrown over a raised framework ami left hanging 
until dry, when they are stored away in bales or bunches. The large 
king salmon {choic-chec), utter being split, are slashed crosswise at sliort 
intervals to open the Hesh and thus facilitate drying; the backbone is 
also generally removed and dried separately. When dry, the smaller 
species, called dog salmon, are always tied in bunches of twenty, and 
are stored or sold iu this shape. 

KISII IRAPS 

Along the entire seacoast salmon are caught in gill nets, which are 
placed at intervals along the shore. On lower Yukon and Kusko- 



1S4 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. anx. 18 

kwini rivers -wicker tisli traps are set, with a briisli and wicker-work 
fence coiiiiectiug- them with the shore. These fisb traps form au elon- 
gated coue, with a fiuiuelshape entrance in the hirger end. Each has 
two long- poles at the sides of the month or broad end and another at 
the small end, by means of wliich it is raised or lowered. It is set at 
the onter end of the wicker-work fence with the month facing down- 
.streain. and held in place by poles driven in the river bottom with their 
ends i)rqiecting above the water. 

A model of a trap from the lower Ynkon, nsed for catching salmon, 
is illustrated in figure 14, plate LXX. The funnel-shape mouth is fas- 
tened to a square framework, with handle-like extensions along the 
npi)er and lower sides, by means of which poles are fastened fur guid- 
ing the trap in setting, and which i-est against the poles driven into the 
river bottom to keep the traji in i)ositiou. 

The p]skimo living near the base of the Knslevak mountains go to 
the Yukon delta to fish for salmon. Xorton bay and the shores around 
the head of Xortou sound are occupied by people from the surround- 
ing districts, who gather there during the tishing season. Nearly all 
of the Sledge islanders resort to the adjacent mainland at this time. 

Throughout the region the people go out from their villages to sum- 
mer camps at places where the run of fish is known to be greatest, and 
all enjoy a season of plenty, always anticipated with pleasure by the 
entire community. 

At times fish are so plentiful on the lower Yukon in July, while the 
dog salmon are running, that the wicker fish traps, which measure 4 to 5 
feet in diameter and about 10 feet in length, have to be emptied several 
times a day to prevent their breaking. The gill nets are also watched 
constantly by the owner, who goes out in his kaiak whenever the 
motion of the floats shows there are fish in them, and, drawing up the 
net so that the heads of the fish are above water, he stuns them by a 
blow from a short club and removes them from the net. 

Figure 2, plate LXX, re])resents one of these clubs for killing fish, which 
was obtained at Sabotnisky. It is made of spruce and is reduced 
in size downward to form a slender handle, suboval in cross section, 
grooved on each side, and wrapped with si)ruce root at the grip. 
Toward the end it becomes larger and is rounded, and then tapers 
again to a truncated point. Another club of this character, from 
Sledge island, is shown in figure 1 of the same plate. It is 30 inches 
long, and is oval in cross section. 

The blackflsh {DaUld j^ectoralls) is common wherever sluggish 
streams and lakelets occur from Kotzebue sound to Kuskokwim river. 
Throughout this region they are taken by means of small wicker traps, 
about IS inches in diameter and o feet long, which are set in small 
streams, with a wicker fence leading from the mouths of the traps to the 
.shore. 

A model of one of these traps, from St Michael, is illustrated in 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNuLOC, .■ 



TEEVTh annual REPOriT PL 





■'"'Hi ;, 








OBJECTS USED IN FISHING cNE-di 



NKLsoxl FISH TKAP.S AND XKls 2S5 

figure 13, plate Lxx, sliowinj;' tlic iiicUiod i.C eoiistiuctioii. Siilinis dl' 
spruce are fastened togellier in a bunch to lurin the .small end ..C the 
trap, and are held in position by a rawhide or spnu-c root lashing; 
thence toward the mouth they are licld in jdace by a wiappin-- of 
spruce root, which is wound si>irally several times around thecirnim- 
ference to the mouth, f'orniiufi- a cone shape basket; the sjilints are 
fastened to the wraiipiug by a lasliin-;- of siuuce root or rawhide, wliich 
is wound around the crossings of the framework: in the mouth of the 
trap is a conical incmthpiece attached to a square framework of four 
sticks aud inserted in the larger end of the traji. where it is fastened by 
lashings on each side. 

By means of traps of this character vast (piantilies of blacktish are 
taken in the waters of the low country between Yukon and Kuskokwim 
rivers, where they are very abundant, aiul form one of the principal 
sources of food supply for the i>eople during several months of the 
year. 

After the salmon season, the main trapping for lish is done along the 
lower Yukon and in the adjacent legion in autiiniii.Just before and after 
the streams become frozen; at this time the salmon trajis are set again 
and vast (juantities of whitetish, losli. pickerel, and blacktish are secured 
aud preserved by freezing for use later in the season. The traps are 
kept out until midwinter, but the main catch is while the tish are crowd- 
ing in from the small streams. I'late Lxxi, from a i)hotograph, shows 
the method of setting these traps tlirongli the ice im the Yukon, near 
Jkogmut (Mission). 

On Norton sound, when high gales blow from the iiortli during Sep- 
tember aud October, very low tides ensue, and the women go out anu)ng 
the exposed rocks to gather mussels, ascidians, and several kinds of 
fish which aie found concealed beneath the large stones otf the rocky 
points. 

NETS 

Gill nets for salmon are set usually on a line leading from the shore. 
The inner end of the line is nuvde fast to a stone or a stake, and tin- 
owner carries the other end out to the jjroper distance and anchors it 
with a stone. At the outer end of the net is fastened a wooden marker- 
float, commonly nuide in the form of a bird. Hounded wooden floats, 
varying considerably in form, are also strung at intervals along the 
upper edge of the net. A specimen of these net tloats, from Ikognuit, 
is illustrated in figure 4, plate lxx. It is fashioned in the shape of a 
loon, with a long, projecting neck, and is made from a single piece of 
■wood. A hole runs through it for attaching the cord; two incised 
grooves outline the wings, aiul a wide, shallow groove extends around 
the edge. All of these grooves are painted red : the center of the liack 
has a greenish tint, but the wings are not colored. 

At Cape Blossom, on the Arctic coast, the people were seen using gill 
nets about 2J feet in length, strung with fioats and sinkers in the usual 



18G 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[eth. axn. 18 



manner. .\ stout cord beld cue end fast to a stake on the shore, while 
the owner, by means of several slender poles lashed together, pushed 
the anchor stone on the outer end out to its place, thus setting the net. 
When the floats gave indication that tish had been caught, the net was 
pulled in hand over hand, the fish removed, and the net reset. This 
plan ai)pcared to work very successfully, as evidenced by the large 
unniber of fish on the drying frames close by. 

On Jvotzebue sound, in the month of September, I saw a party of 
Malemut catching whiteflsh with a seine. The net was fitted with 
wooden floats and stone sinkers in the iisual manner, and was about 
CO feet long, the ends being spread by stout stakes secured by lashings 
of cord. The shore end of the net was held by two men standing at 
the water's edge; the other end was pushed out from the shore to its 
full extent by the aid of sevei'al long poles. A long, rawhide line was 
made fast to the outer end of the net and another to the middle of the 
string of poles, by which it was pulled along. One man carried the inner 




end of the pole along the beach between the two rear line men and the 
men holding the net. In this way the net was drawn along the beach 
for 100 or 200 yards, and when the fish were running large hauls were 
made. The accompanying figure 49, showing this method, is from a 
sketch made at the time. 

Between Cape Komanzof and the mouth of Kuskokwim river the 
greater part of the fishing is done by means of diji-nets, but great 
quantities of stickleback and other small fish are taken in small nets 
or seines of fine rawhide cord. Large dip-nets for whitefish are made 
of the same material, and among the people south of Gape Vancouver 
this style of net is used more than the gill net. A dipnet obtained by 
Lieutenant Stoney at the head of Kotzebue sound is about three feet 
long, and is made of twisted sinew cord. The upper third of the net has 
meshes about an inch in diameter; this is joined to the finer-mesh 
lower portion by a rawhide cord, which is knotted into the adjoining 
meshes of the two parts. The meshes of the lower portion are less 
than half the size of those of the upper i)art. On the lower point 
of the net is a rawhide loop, by means of which it can be raised and 
the contents discharged. A small dip-net obtained at Ikogmut is 



KISII MET;^ 



1S7 




sliowii in figure 10, plate LXX. Tlie lioo]) at the top is a r.nin.l willow- 
stick, with the beveled eiuls oveilapi)inn- ami boiin.l t..}ietlicr. The 
Laiulle extends across the hoop and i.n.Jccts four and one half inches 
on one side. The net is shallow, nnide 
of twisted sinew cord, and is joined to 
the booi> by a spiral wrapping- of s])rnoe 
root, wliieb jjasses around the frame and 
through the bordering meshes. 

The acconipanyingrtgure ■■>() shows the 
mesh of alargerdip net from Sabotnisky. 
This net is about thirty inches in diame- 
ter, is made of twistcil sinew cord, and 
is used for catching various kinds of 
small flsli. A small, strongly nnule dip- 
net of willow bark, obtained by Ijieuten- 
ant Stoney from the region back of 
Kotzebue sound, is shown in figure Ut, 
plate LXS. It is only about fifteen inches in diameter; the meshes are 
of diamond shape around the border and ([uadrate on the bottom. 
The mesh of a large dip-net used for catching salmon and whitelish 
(figure 51) was obtained from Sabotnisky. It is about six feet in 
length and the same in diameter, and is nnule of willow bark. The 

hoo]) is of sjyruce wood, with a 
long, slender handle of the same 
material, which crosses the hooji. 
Figure 12, plate LXX, represents 
a di])-net from Plover bay, Sibe- 
ria. uvm\{'. of whalebone, which is 
used for catching small fish in the 
lakes and streams of that vicinity. 
The mouth of the net is held 
ojjcn by a stout rim of whalebone. 
I'our strands of the same material 
are attached at intervals around 
the rim and fastened together 
about sixteen inches above it. A 
heavy granite bowlder, grooved 
to receive the lashing, is fastened 
to a whalebone ring in the bottom 
of the net, which is used by being 
thrown out into the water and 
then hauled to the shore by a cord. 
A herring seine of sinew conl, 
from St Michael (figure 52), has a nuud)er of rounded, subtriangular 
wooden floats pierced at their small end for attachment to a sealskin 
cord which runs along the upper edge of the net; to a cord stretched 




..!■ ilip- 



ISS 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



lETH. ANN-. 18 



uIdhs' tlie lower border are laslied pieces of deerhoni four to five iiiclies 
ill leiiiitli, Tvliicb serve as weights and also as liaudles by wbich the 
net can be hauled to the shore. A seine of twisted sinew cord similar 
to the ])recediiig, obtained at Hotliam inlet (number 63G12), is about 
thirty inches in width, with a stretcher of wood at each end. It has 
o\ al wooden floats and deerhorn and stone sinkers. 

A stiiall-mesh seine of sinew cord, used for herring and whitefish, 
obtained at Cape Prince of Wales, is shown in figure 53. It is nearly 

thirty inches wide, and has 
wooden stretchers at each 
end, a series of rounded, 
ta])ering floats aloug the up- 
per edge, and handle-like 
sinkers of ivory along the 
lower border. Another 
small-mesh herring seine, 
about five feet wide, obtained 
at St Michael (figure 54), is 
made from fine sealskin cord. 
Along the bottom is strung a 
series of small oval stone sink- 
ers, notched above and below 
to secure the lashings. 

Floats for nets are some- 
times carved in the shape of 
birds and iu other forms. Fig- 
ure 15, plate Lxx, represents 
a tioat rudely fashioneil in the 
f< >rm of a grebe ; another, from 
tlie lower Yukon (plate lxx, 
8), represents the head of 
a mau and the flattened tail 
of a bird. A float from St 
Lawreuce island (figure 55) 
is round iu cross section, 
hu-ge in the middle, and 
tapers gradually to both 
ends, where there are slight 
shoulders to retain the cords by which it is made fast. Others are 
merely rounded blocks of wood, pierced for attachment to the net. 

In addition to the wooden floats, others are made from the inflated 
bladders or stomachs of various animals. Figure 'J, plate lxx, illus- 
trates a set of three such floats and a wooden marker-float for use on 
one end of the net. The latter is a thin, curved piece of wood iu the 
form of a thumbless hand, with a round, excavated depression in the 
center, which, with the inside of the finger tips, is painted black. This 




Fig. :.2— Mtsh, tlu.it, anil siuker of h 



FI>M SKIXKS 



ISt) 



hand is similar to that rei)reseiit('(l so fi-e(|ii 
and ill paintings of luytliologii-al heings. 
trates a stone sinker for a net, obtained at 
roughly triangular pebhle with 
a lashing of rawhide terminating 
in a loop tor attaching it to the 
net. It is not grooved, advant- 
ag:e being taken of the natural 
shape to secure the lashings. 
Another example (tigure <!, ])late 
i.xx). from the Dioinede islands, 
is a rounded bowlder, with 
two i)ecked grooves extending 
around it in opposite directiiuis, 
around which is a stout sealskin 
cord. The lashings on both this 
and the preceding sinker are per- 
manent, and the attachment to 
the net is made bj' a separate 
cord. 

Ivory or bone weights fre- 
quently alternate with stone 
sinkers ou the nets, and serve 
both as sinkers and handles. 
They vary from five to six or 
seveu inches in length, are more 
or less curved, aud have a hole 
at each end for fastening them 
to the net. A small bone handle of this 
the raven totem mark on its inner surface. 
A set of four such handles from the lower Y 



■ntly in this region on masks 

Figure 7, plate i.w, ilhis- 

I'oint lloiie, consisting (if a 





FUi. 54— Scllsli 



Directly after the freezing of the Yukon 
run of lamprey, which ])ass up the river 



vvilbstivl.h.r 
wllh float and siiik.-r (1 

kind (nund)cr .'IC.'iiri). with 
was obtained at Knshunuk. 
ukon are shown in lignre 11, 
plate i.xx. Another 
set of four handles, 
IroiH ('ape Vancou- 
ver, illustrated in lig- 
nre • "', plate LXX, are 
slender, curved, bone 
rods, with a hole at 
each end. The sub- 
oval weight of walrus 
ivory shown in figure 
5, [ilate LXX. was ob 
, tained on St Law- 

rence island, 
n the fall there is an annual 
Just below the ice, in great 




190 THE ESKIMO AP.OUT BERING STRAIT [EXH.Am 18 

numbers. Holes are kept opeu in the ice by the people who watch for 
the first aiipearaiice of these fish. As soon as the first oue is seen 
everybody seizes a dip-net or a stout stick with a short cross-piece at 

the lower end and throws out as 
many as ijossible. When the luaiu 
body of the fish have passed, the 
people run up the river for some dis- 
tance, cut other holes, and repeat the 
^ , ^ catch. This is continued until the 

Fig. 55— Wooden net float (§). 

people are exhausted by the violent 
exertion or a nei.ffhboring- village is reached, when they are compelled 
to stop and give way to those living in that locality. 

NET-MAKING IMPLEMENTS 

GAUGES 

Various tools are used by the Eskimo in the manufacture of nets, 
several forms of which were seen in different districts. From St Law- 
rence island several curiously shaped whalebone gauges for the meshes 
of nets were obtained. One of these (number lii7020) is a trifle over 
six and one-half inches in length, and is a flat, oblong tablet, with a 
small i)rqjection at each end on one side. From the holes through it 
near one end it had evidently been used previously as part of a sledge 
runner. The specimen illustrated in figure 4, plate LXXii, is similar in 
form and material to the preceding, but is smaller. Similar but shorter 
examples are shown in figures 2 and 3, plate Lxxii. Each of these has 
a long, curved handle projecting from one corner and a short spur from 
the other. 

A whalebone gauge from Kotzebue sound (figure 7, plate Lsxii) is 
notched along each side to receive a sinew cord to secure it to the 
wooden handle in which it is inserted. The specimen from Sledge 
island (figure 13, plate lxxii) is a long-blade gauge of ivory, with a 
heavy back. The handle is grooved to receive the fingers, and ter- 
minates in an image of a seal's head, with eyes, ears, and nose repre- 
sented by inlaid, blackened wooden pegs. 

The long-blade ivory gauge with heavy back, from Cape Darby (fig- 
ure 12, plate lxxii), has a long, tapering deerhoru handle riveted and 
lashed to its upper side. The example from the Uiomede islands (fig- 
ure 14, plate lxxii) is a large, heavy, ivory gauge with a plain handle, 
which has a rude projection at the inner end to prevent it from slip- 
ping. The deerhorn gauge from Cape Nome (figure 8, plate lxxii) is 
fastened in the si)lit end of a wooden handle by a lashing of spruce 
root. A gauge similar to this was obtained on Xunivak island. A 
small, double-end gauge from Sabotuisky (figure 10, plate lxxii) is 
slightly (liflerent in size at each end. The handle is enlarged in the 
inid<lle and has a stick lashed to it by spruce roots to make it large 
enough to attbrd a convenient grip for the hand. The single-blade 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




NET-MAKING IMPLEMENTS nearly one-fourt 



'•"-'•'"'"■' NET-MA KINX; IMI'IJ.Mr.NTS IJH 

deerhoin -auge liom Sl.aktolik (figure :., plate Lxxii) is similar in 
tovm to the preceding; it lias a circular h..le tlirou-li the middle sur 
rounded by an incised circle; the handle is i.icr.'ed with lour licles 
three of equal size a.ul one larger. Figure !). plate Lxxii, shows a hand' 
somelymade ivory gauge from ('ape Vancouver, with a handle wrai)ped 
by spruce roots, and figure (J, jdate Lxxii, illustrates a small gauge from 
Kusbunuk, made of deerliorn, with a handle enlarged toward the butt 
The deerborn gauge from Nunivak island shown in liguic 11. plate 
LXXII, is grooved along the ni)per edge and has a handle teniiiiiatiii<' 
iu a book curved downward. "^ 

The specimen from Xubviukluhugaluk (figure 1, jilate Lxxu) is a 
small gauge entirely different in form from the others. It is of deer- 
born, with a bandle oval in cross section, from which it projects at a 
right angle a little over two inches. 

SnUTTI.KS AN-J) NKKni.KS 

The shuttles used iu making nets also vary considerably in size and 
form, according to locality and to the i)nipose for which the nets are to 
be used. 

Figure 14, plate Lxxiil, illustrates a small wooden shuttle from 
Sledge island, used for making fine-mesh nets. The long, slender, ivory 
shuttle, shown in figure L'C, plate LXiii, is also from Sledge island. 

The long, slender shuttle from Cape Nome, shown in figure 25, iilate 
Lxxiii, has the central portion of wood and the two ends made of bone, 
with a wedge-shape notch on the inner side, into which the tapering 
ends of the wooden portion are fitted and held in position by means of 
a series of cross rivets. 

The shuttle from the lower Yukon (figuri^ l.'8, plate i.xxiii) is made of 
deerboru and has conventional figures and patterns etched on one 
surface. Another deerborn shuttle from Cape Nome (figure 18, plate 
LXXIII) has four reindeer etched on one side. The siiecimcn from Kot- 
zebue sound (figure 27, plate lxxiii) is a long, plain, deeihorn shuttle. 

The deerborn shuttle from Nunivak island (figure 1!), plate lxxiu) 
has the end openings deeper than usual and the borders along the sides 
are raised above the plane of the flat, central i)ortion. One of the arms 
is made from a separate i)iece and is attached by means of sinew cords 
passed through three holes in the main part of the shuttle. 

The specimen from Cai)e Nome shown in figure 21, plate Lxxui, is a 
long wooden shuttle. At the bottom of the notch iu each end it is 
crossed by a sinew lashing, to prevent it from si'litting, the lashing 
passing through two holes on each side of the edge. A deep groove 
runs along the sides between the notches in the ends. The long 
wooden shuttle from Sledge island represented in figure 23, plate 
LXXIII, has a deep groove along the sides between the notches. 

Figure 20, plate LXXIII, shows a huge, heavy, wooden shuttle, such 
as is used in making nets for catching white whales or large seals. It 



11)2 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (eth.asn. HJ 

was obtained ou one of the I )ioiuei]e islands. The large Tvoodeu shuttle 
from Cape Yaucouver (ti.miie 8, plate Lxxiii) has two sides made of 
separate pieces, which are held toji'ether by crossbars which pierce the 
sides at the bottom of each notch. The inside is excavated to foru' 
two long, triangular borders. 

Figure 1*1, plate lxxiii, represents a large, rather broad, wooden 
shuttle from Xunivak island. It has a tlat groove extending between 
the uotches. 

The wooden shuttle shown in figure 10, plate LXXIII, is from Paimut, 
as is also that shown in figure D of the same plate, which is made of 
one piece with two long openings in the middle. 

The specimen from Norton sound (figure 22, plate lxxiii) is a large 
wooden shuttle used in making nets for capturing seals and white 
whales. 

The deerhorn shuttle from Nulukhtulogumut (figure 16, plate lxxiii) 
contains some tine, twisted sinew cord. 

A long, narrow, wooden shuttle from Sabotuisky (figure 15, plate 
LXXIII) has the two ends lashed with sinew cord to prevent the wood 
from splitting; wound upon it is some fine cord made from the twisted 
inner bark of the willow. The large wooden shuttle from the lower 
Yukon (figure 17, plate lxxiii) is also filled with cord made from mate- 
rial similar to that in the preceding s]iecimen. 

The shuttle from St Lawrence island (figure 12, plate lxxiii) is made 
of whalebone in the shape of an arrowpoint, with the center excavated, 
leaving a long, tongue-like jioint projecting from the base toward the 
tip. Another shuttle (figure 11, plate lxxiii) from the same locality 
is filled with well-made, twisted sinew cord. 

Figure 13, plate lxxiii, represents a shuttle, obtained on the coast of 
Japan by General Capron, which is similar in pattern to the i^recediug. 
The Eskimo of eastern Siberia and of St Lawrence island must have 
derived the pattern of their shuttles from farther south, and the 
imported design thus replaced the ordinary kind in use among their 
relatives of the islands of Bering strait and the American shore. 

F^igure 7, plate lxxiii, represents a long, wooden, netting needle, 
tapering toward both ends, with a large hole in the middle; it is used 
for mending the broken meshes of nets. The double-point ivory net- 
ting needle from Askinuk (figure 4, plate lxxiii) is similar in shape to 
the preceding. 

Tlie ivory netting needle, pierced at one end, shown in figure G, plate 
lxxiii, was obtained at Cape Xome. The large, curved needle of deer- 
horn represented in figure 5, plate lxxiii, is from the lower Yukon. 

Figure 3, plate Lxxiir, from Ukagamut, and figure 1 of the same i)late, 
from Kushunuk, represent small needles used in mending the meshes 
of small nets. A needle from St Michael (figure 2, plate lxxiii) is 
somewhat similar to the preceding, but has a hole near the center 
instead of near one end. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETKNOLOGy 



F.'GHTEEMH ANNUAL REPORT 




NET-MAKING IMPLEMENTS one-fifthi 



NF.T-MAKIM; IM I'l.hMENl's 



1:13 



MAi;i.iNsnKi:s 

Mailinspikes aroused lor tyi.io- a,„l sli,,,,i„o- ineslios whilo inal<in- 
nets; they also serve for slipping iiieslu-s to enlarjje or to reduce their 
size when it is desired to cliaii.i:e the uses of nets. 

Figure 21, phite Lxxii, illustrates a huR.' marlinspike. from Raz- 
hiiisky. It IS made from reindeer horn, tai)ers to a hiunt end, aixl has 
the upper end forked. 

Figure 18, plate lxku, shows an imiilenient, from the lower i^usko- 
kwini. similar to tlie last mentioned but smaller in size. A enrved mar- 
linspike from I'astolik aigure 17, plate Lxxii) is made of ivovy and is 
oblong in cross sec- 
tion. Another exam- 
ple, from t'ape Nome 
(ligure 10, jilate 
Lxxii), has an ivory 
point fitted into a slot in a wdoden handle and held in jilace by a 
rawhide lashing. 

Figure Hi, ])late Lxxii, represents a marlinspike fnim Norton sound; 
it is made of ivory and is donble pointed: it is nearly plain on two 
sides and convex on the other. A line of walrus is etched upon otic 
side, houses on another, and a conventional ])attern ornaments the 
third. 

Figure 5(i shows a marlinspike used lor sli|iping knots in large nets. 
It is from Nunivak island and is round in shape, the handle terminat- 
ing in a figure of the head of a nuirre, with the nntiith, nostrils, and 
eyes marked by incised lines. A marlinspike from Norton sonnd 
(figure 57) has a bone point set in a slot in the wooden handle and lield 
in position by lashings of s))rnce root. The examjile from Cape Nome 



(figure L'O, plate LXXII) has a large, blunt i)oint at one end and at the 
other a small, spur-like i)oint which serves for loosening knots. 

Figure !•">, ])late lxxii, reiiresents a marlinspike from Kotzebue 
sound: it is a long, slender rod of ivory, triangular in cross section, 
having all its surfaces ornamented with etched figures of whales, wal- 
rus, and hunting scenes. A specimen from the lower Yukon has a 
ronml ivory point set in a wooden handle and held in iilaecbya lashing 
of sinew cord. 

KKEI.S 

Several forms of reels are em])loyed for holding the small cord used 
in inakiug nets. 

Figure 21, plate lxxii, re[)rcsents one of these reels from Norton 
sound. It is neatly groove'! : at the tips of the arms <if the fork at one 
end are two seal heads, ami the hiiid-lliiipers are at tiie other end ; a 
IS ETII i;i 



11)4 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BEKIXIJ STRAIT [etii.ann 13 

grooved i.atteiii extends down their backs aud the fore-flippers are 
indicated by etched lines. 

A grotesquely made reel of deerhorn, from Sledge island, is shown in 
figure 20, plate Lxxir. One end is ornamented with the head of a wolf; 
the ()i)posite side is forked to represent the legs of the animal, and two 
forked arms at the other end represent the hind-limbs. 

A reel of deerhorn from Sabotnisky (liguie iTi, plate Lxxii) has the 
tops of the arms at one end, as well as ime of the arms at the other 
end, carved in the shape of animal heads. On the sides are etched 
l>atterns. 

Figure 'S.i, plate lxxii, from Cape Nome, and figure 22 of the same 
plate, from Kigiktauik, represent deerhorn reels without ornament. 

FISH SPEARS 

In the fall season holes are made in the ice at places where the water 
is sufficiently clear to render objects visible several feet below the sur- 
face. Through these holes fish are speared, and large quantities of 
whitefish and pickerel are obtained by this method. 

Figure •'!, plate lxvii, shows a typical example of these fish spears 
from St Michael. It consists of a wooden shaft about six feet in length, 
with a sharp, deerhorn point, surrounded by narrow pieces of deer 
horn with triangular points which are secured by a lashing to a 
shoulder on the shaft. At the base of these points a wooden crossbar, 
fastened by a strong leather cord, holds the points in their relative 
position. When a fish is struck with the central point, the triangular 
sidepieces spread a little, grasp the fish firmly with their inner edges, 
and liold it until it can be drawn out of the water. A somewhat simi- 
lar lish spear from Ita/.binsky (figure 5, plate lxvii) has the central 
point barbed, instead of smooth as in the preceding specimen; the 
sidepieces are fastened against a shoulder on the shaft by rawhide 
cords, aud the points are lashed across the ends in a similar manner. 
Figure J:2, 1, represents a deerhorn prong for one of these fish sj)ears 
from the lower Yukon. An(jther fish spear, from Razbiusky (plate 
LXVII, 0), has two points of reindeer horn with two notches on one 
side of each. A short-handle fish spear from the lower Yukon (plate 
LXVII, 4) has only one large, single barb jioint lashed against the 
side of the shaft. The head of a fish spear from Nunivak island, 
(])late Lxviil, 1) has the central point surrounded by six others, 
inserted in slits in the end of the shaft and held in jilace by a lashing 
of spruce root. All of these i)oints are barbed for about four inches 
along one edge. 

A small fish spear from Nunivak island (ligure 2, ])late lxvii) has a 
central point, surrounded by three other points, forming a triangle; 
these points are inserted in the shaft and held in position by a rounded 
ivory ferule. The shaft is very slender, round in cross section, and 



NELsoNl KISH sl'EAliS ig-, 

about four feet in len.utli; it is iu two sections with ovcilai)i)iiij;- mils 
beveled and lield togetlu'r by a lasliin.u' of twisted sinew conl. 

Another spear from the same ktcality (tijjure 1. jJate LWiii is sini- 
ihir to the preceding exeei)t that it has four jHtiuts instead of tliree 
surrounding the central point, whicli are also held in i)ositiou by an 
ivory ring. The inner sides of all the |)oiuts ou both of these sjK'ars 
are notched to form barbs. 

From the lower Kuskokwim northward to Kot/.ebue sound s].cars 
used for taking salmon and wiiitelish have large points of bone, deer- 
horn, or ivory, with from oiu^ to three barbs. They are jiierced near the 
butt for the attachment of a cord, and at this end are of a rounded 
wedge shape for insertion into a slot in the end of a long wooden shaft; 
a stout sealskin line is made fast to the point, drawn np along the 
shaft, and terminated iu a coil, which is held in the hand of the fislicr- 
man. When a fish is struck the shaft becomes detached, leaving the 
barbed point in the fish, which is hauled ashore by aid of the lim-. 

The points of these spears vary considerably in character, as is shown 
in the examples described ; they are intended for captuiing large lish in 
the streams flowing into the sea, or in the tributaries of the larger 
rivers iu the interior; liut they are also sometimes used for spearing 
white whales. 

Figure 7, plate LXViii, illustrates one of these points from Norton 
snuid; it is made of bone and has four barbs, two on each siile; to 
the hole in the butt is attached a piece of stout rawhide line. A slen- 
der point of deerhorn, from Kowak river (figure M, jdate i.xviii . has a 
barb on each side. Anothei- from the same locality (figure L', plate 
LXVin) is a fiat, slender i)oint of bone with a single barb. A bone 
point from Chalitmut (figure 3, ])late Lxvm) has a single barb and is 
made in two pieces; the overlapping ends are riveted together and 
wrapped with two rawhide lashings. A shoit, rudely made bone point 
from Xortoii sound (figure S, plate Lxviii) has two barbs, one on each 
side, and two holes near the l)ase.. Figure I, plate lxviii. from Agiuk- 
chugumut, and figure -'!• of the same jdate, from N<irton sound, repre- 
sent bone points with one barb. 

To attract pickerel and large whitelish within reach of their spears 
while fishing through holes iu the ice, the Eskimo of the lower Yukon 
make use of the figure of a fish about six or .seven inches long. They 
have two holes ijierced through the back tor sinew cords, which are tied 
together a few inches above and continue thence upward as a single 
string. These images are well fashioned, with the eyes, gill oiicning.s, 
scales, and lateral line indicated by etched lines. The tisherman stands 
dire(!tly over the lude and dangles the image a few feet below the sur 
face of the water, holding the spear in his hand ready to thrust on the 
approach of the fish, whh-h rush at tli<' lure and are readily speared. 
Figure G, plate lxviii. represents one ol' these luies. which was obtained 
at Ha/.binsky. 



i;)(j THE ESKIMO AIIOUT BERING STHAIT [etu.anx. 16 

A1:TS VXD MAXIFAt TURKS 

BONE AND IVdRV CAiniNIJ 

The Alaskuii Kskimo are rfiuarkalile for their dexterity in working 
wood, Ixine, ivory, and reindeer Lorn. This is particularly noticeable 
among the people on the islands of Bering strait ami the mainland 
coast from Point Hope southward to the month of Kuskokwim river. 
■\Vitliin this area the implements nsed in hunting and for household 
]inrposes are handsomely nnrde and often are elaborately ornamented; 
special skill is shown in adapting the forms of nninimals, birds, and 
lish, with which they are familiar, to the ornamentation of useful arti- 
cles. In addition to utilizing animal forms for this purpose, they dis- 
])lay considerable imaginative faculty in the couceptiou of designs for 
fanciful carvings, as well as in ornamental patterus, which are fre- 
quently etched on the surface of various objects. JNIany of their carv- 
ings are really artistic, and the skill with which animal forms are 
carved in relief is admirable. The beauty of their work is the more 
surprising when we consider the rude tools with which it is accom- 
plished. Of the articles obtained many are very ancient, and, the old 
men told me, had been made by the use of flint tools. The execution 
ofthe.se carvings is equal to that of the specimens produced by the use 
of iron and steel tools at the present time. 

While a considerable degree of artistic taste and skill is quite gen- 
eral, there are some districts in which the people seem to have a 
greater amount of ability in this direction than the average. The most 
notable iustanc^e of this is among the people living between the Yukon 
delta and the lower Kuskokwim, which is amplj' illustrated in the 
collection, obtained in that locality, i>f elaborate masks, handsomely 
ornamented wooden boxes and trays, and a great variety of beautifully 
executed ivory work. The villages of Askinuk, Kushunuk, AgiuUchu- 
gumut, and others in this vicinity, supplied a tine series of ivory carvings, 
well-made wooden dishes, and inimerous implements of wood and ivory, 
all marked by excellence of workmanshi]). The people of Fkagamut 
were living in the greatest squalor, even for Eskimo, yet among them 
were found beautiful specimens of ivory carving. 

Before working bone, deerhorn, or ivory, it is the custom to soak 
the material thoroughlj' in urine in order to soften it, and indeed it is 
tre(iue!itly wetted with the same licjuid as the work progresses. For 
rendering the etidied lines on the surface of carvings more distinct, a 
black paint is made from a mixture of gunpowder and blood, which is 
rubbed into the freshly cut incisions, making a permanent stain. 

In jilaces where ivory is plentiful the men appeared to delight in occu- 
pying their leisure time in making carvings from that material or from 
bone, sometimes for use. but frequently merely for pastime, and many 
little images are made as toys for children. The articles thus pixrdnced 



CAKVINil AND l)l;A\viN(i 



19' 



was 



are not rejianlcd by tlu-ii. as liu\ iu^- any paiticular values an,! I „ „ 
often amused at tlic delinht with whid, tl.t-y sold siuvinuMis .>c tlieii 
work for one or two needles, a l)iuss button, or some simdar tiiilc. 

The women of the district between the Yukon delta and KusUokwim 
river are not very proliclent in needlework or in oruamenlino their jjar- 
nients, the artistie skill aiipearinj;- to be eonlined to the men; bunui 
the islands and the adjacent American shore of lierinn- strait, while the 
men make very liandsome ivory work, the women are e(|ually skilfiU in 
beantiful ornamental needlework on articles of clothing. This is nota- 
bly the case with the linely decorated sealskin boots for which the 
natives id" Diomede and Kin<>- islands are noted. 

The men at Point Hope, on the .Vrctic coast, are also skilful in ivcirv 
work. About the shores of Kot/ebue sound and lierinj;- strait various 
articles and implements, such as celts, knives, knife sharpeners, and 
labrets, are made from nephrite. 

On the Asiatic shore the Eskimo ajipear to have lost much of their 
skill in carvini;- and other ornamental work: conseiiuently their cli>th- 
ing- and implements, both on the mainland coast and on St I,awreiu-e 
island, are rndely made. 

In ascending Yukon and Kuskokwini rivers, as the coast districts are 
left behind skill in carving becomes less and less marke<l anumg the 
Eskimo, nntil tliose living as neighbors to the Tinuc ai)pear to have 
but little ability in that art. I'aimut. the last Kskiino village on the 
Yukon, was notable for the fact that the tools and other implements in 
use were as rude as those of the adjacent Tiunc. 

In addition to their skill in carving, the I'^skimo of the coast disi)lay 
great abdity in etching upon tools and im])lcments, notably on ivory 
drill bows, scenes from their daily life, records of hunts, or other events. 
They also produce a great variety of ornamental designs, coni|)osed of 
straight or curved lines, dots, circles, and human or grotescpie faces. 
Upon the surfaces of their wooden dishes they frei|uently paint a ground 
color of red, upon which, as well as upon those that are not colored, are 
drawn in black various well nnide patterns and tigurcs rci)resenting 
totem animals. [)ersonal markings, or mythological creatures. 



The Eskimo also possess (MUisiderable skill in maji making. While 
traveling between the Yukon delta and the Kuskokwim. several men 
drew for me excellent maps of the districts with which they were 
familiar, although i)robably they had never seen a map of any kind 
made by a white man. At other jjoints to the northward of St Michael 
considerable -skill was manifested by several persons in sketching out 
lines of the coast, with its indentations and projections. 

During one winter at St Michael a young Kskimo, about L'.'i or L'4 years 
of age, came from the country of the Kaviak ]>eiunsula and remained 
alxmt the station. \Yhile there he took great i)lcasuie in looking at 



]i)S THE ESKIMO ABOCT BERING STRAIT |eth.ann18 

till' niiineioiis illustrated papers we liad, and would come day after day 
and horrow theni; finally lie came and asked nie for a pencil and some 
])aper, wliii'li I supplied liim. Some days later I chanced to go to his 
tent, and found him lying prone upon the ground, with an old magazine 
befoie him. engaged in copying one of the pictures on the piece of 
paper which 1 had given him. 

When he saw me he seemed to be very much abashed and tried to 
conceal the drawing, but I took it up and was surprised at the ability 
lie hail shown. He had done so well that I asked him if he could 
draw mo some pictures of Eskimo villages and sceues. He agreed to 
try to do so. lie was furnished with a supply of pencils and paper, 
and the result was a series of a dozen or more pictures which were 
remarkable, considering that they were made by a savage who,se ideas 
were similar to those of his people, except what he had learned by 
looking over the papers I had loaned him a short time before. 

"WRITTEN RECORDS 

The Eskimo also have an idea of keeping records or tallies of events, 
as was illustrated iu a trading record kept by a Malemut during a 
winter trading trip which he made from St Michael to Kotzebue 
siiuiid. It was kept for his own reference and without any suggestion 
from another. It was drawn ou small fragments of brown paper and 
was a good example of picture writing; small, partly conventional out- 
lines were made to represent the various articles of trading goods, 
which were drawn beside a representation of the skins for which he 
had exchanged them. Ou the same paper he drew a route maj) of his 
journey, marking the villages at which he had stopped. 

PAINTS AND COLORS 

A picture, image, paint, or color is called ii'-IJiiii-iik by the Unalit. 
Fine shades of color are not differentiated by these people, but they 
have names for most of the primary colors. 

Black is called tihl-u'-U; white, l-a-tiujli-n-li; red, J^au-Kj'-il-li; brown 
or russet, iMU-hi'-n-rikh-lK'-iful;; green, cliHn-i\l;h'-Julc or chiin-tiii'-H-lL 
Various other shades are distinguished as being colored like natural 
objects; gray or clay color is called 'ki-<jH'-tjH-(jn(il'-ut-ul-(ivQm Ici-gii'-iji'd; 
claj% and ii'-lhiil-iik, color); purple is Li-Kn' ii'-llnP-i'ik: blueis lu-lof/h'-iin 
<i'-lli1ii-i"i]c. 

Coloring matter is obtained from various sources. The dark reddish 
shade which is given to tanned sealskin is obtained by soaking the 
inner bark of the alder in urine for a day and washing the skin with 
the infusion. White is made from a white clayey earth; yellow and 
red from ocherous earths; red is also obtained from oxide of iron; 
black is made from plumbago, charcoal, or gunpowder, the two latter 
being mixeil with blood; green is obtained from oxide of copjjer. 



I'AINT noXKS 



I'JO 



For the purpose of .stoiinji tlieir Irauniciits of paiht tli.- Eskimo u-^c 
boxes somewhat similar in .ueiiera! .'Iiaracter to tliose used for tools 
save that they are very luuoh smaller. These boxes also serve for keei)"- 
111- other small articles, sneli as lishhooks. spear- or arrow points, etc 

ViiiUTii 8, plate lxii. illustrates a small ivory i)aint box obtained' 
from Norton sound by Mr L. M. Turner. It is about lour inelies lore, 
by an inch and a half wide, and with the exception of the rover is 
made from one pieee. It is obloiio-. and has a sunken ledj^e at eaeli 
end to receive the cover. On one end a liiinian face is carveil in relief, 
on the other end the mouth and nostrils of an animal, and on the 
bottom the tigure of a seal. .\ small wooden box from St :\Iicliael 
(number 33021) is oval in outline and rei)ieseiits the body of a seal. 
The cover is in the form of a smaller seal, of which the projecting head 
and neck serve as a liandle for raisins;- it. Another paint box. from 
the lower Yukon (figure 13, plate lxii), is cut from a sin«;le jiiece of 
wood and represents a salmon, the eyes, nostrils, mouth, '/\\\ openin.irs, 
and lateral line being indicated by incised lines. A square cover (its 
like a stopper in the top and has a rawhide looj) on its center for 
raising it. A box from Norton sound i tigure 11, plate lxh) represents 
two seals, one on the back of tht; other, with their heails tnined to 
the left, the upper seal forming the cover. The eyes of both are rep- 
leseiited by inlaid beads, the nostrils and mouths are indicated by 
incised lines, and the forellipiiers of the larger .seal are carved in 
relief on its sides. A somewhat similar box ((iuure 1.5, plate LXii) was 
obtained on Nunivak island, but it re()resents the ligure of only a 
single seal. 

A curious colored box (figure 12, plate lxii) was obtained at Cape 
Vancouver. It repre.sents a seal with the mouth oiien and with the. 
teeth in relief; the foretiippers are carved in relief on the sides, the 
eyes and nostrils are indicated by ivory pegs, and various other pegs 
are inserted on the surface of the body. The back- and fore Hipi>ers are 
painted a dull bluish color; the sides are red, and the same color extends 
forward over the top of the head to the muzzle: the chin, throat, lower 
surface of the body, and outline of the tiijtpers, with triangular spots 
to mark the ears, are black; the teeth are outlined in red. A similar 
box from the same locality (tigure 17, plate LXii) represents a banded 
sciil. The lower surface of the body and a large, triangular space froiii 
the crown to the shoulders are colored black; the remainder of the 
ujiper surface is alternatel,y banded with red and black lines. 

A paint bos from Norton .sound (tigure ".». plate lxii) is made fnun a 
single piece, and represents a seal. The fore llippeis are in relief, the 
tail and hind dippers are carved tree, and the whiskers are represented 
by little tufts of seal hair set in on each side of the muzzle. The cover, 
which is of spoon shape, tits like a stopper and is jjrovided with a 
projecting rod winch serves as a thumb piece for raising it. 

A curiously shaped box from Big lake (ligure 16, i>late LXii) is 



2t)0 



THE ESKIMO AISOTT BERING STRAIT 



JJ^7 




-Wuuilua paint box (al 



iiitciKhMi to represent tlie larva of some insect. It is cut from a single 
pww and has an oval, stopper like cover, with a cord loop in the center 
for raisins it. A series of alternately red and black grooves encircle 
the sides of the body: the crescentic mouth is incised, two beads rep- 
resent the nostiils, and two incised rings outline the eyes. The mouth, 

nostrils, and eyes are painted red, the 
rest of the face sliowing the natural 
color of the wood. 

A box from the lower Yukon (figure 
58) is flattened above and below, and 
is pear-shape around the sides, which 
are formed by bending a thin strip of 
wood, the ends being sewed together 
with spruce root; the bottom is fast- 
ened on with wooden pegs, and a 
stopi)er-like cover, with a Haring rim, 
fits into the top, on which a series of small triangular and 'circular 
l)ieces of ivory are inlaid. The colors which originally ornamented 
this box have disai)peared through long use. A box from I'astolik 
(number 3.'i014) is somewhat similar to the preceding, but the cover is 
held in place by a long cord which is wound several times around the 
box and fastened over a peg which i)rojects in front. 

A rudely oval box from the lower Yukon (tigure 7, plate LXii) is 
cut from a single piece of wood, and has two compartments to each 
of which is fitted a stopper like cover, one rounded in outline aud the 
other with one end truncated ; 
they are provided with small 
cord looi)S for lifting them. 
The body of tlie box has a 
groove extending entirely 
around tlie sides; another 
starting from it passes under 
the bottom to the opposite 
side. 

A handsome wooden box 
from Big lake (figure 51t) is 
carved from a single piece, 
and has a stopper-like cover. 
The body of the box rei)resents 
a seal with the front flip])crs 
in relief and the eyes formed 
by white beads; the wrists of 

the tlippers are crossed by a small inlaid bar of ivory. At one end 
of the cover is a human face carved in relief, the mouth and eyes 
being represented by pieces of ivorj' neatly inlaid. This face and a 
circle about the eyes of the seal, as well as a long ridge connected with 




'"^■•''"■■') PAINT i!,,xKs— i-orn:Kv 201 

tbe liippers and the bottom cf tl.c l.,.x. ;,r.- coloiv.i iv.l. Tlio n,,r ,.|m1 
of tlie cover is blue, and the remainder of the box is black 

An oval box from St Lawreneo islan.l (nnn.ber (i.-.L'(;7) ivpresenl^ tlie 
rude outline of a seal with a smaller one on its back, which forms iIk, 
cover, littnig like a stopper. On the back of the cover are inlaid six 
halves of blue beads. A sinew cord projecting- several inches thron-h 
the cover serves for raisin- it. The eyes of the larser seal are formed 
by round pieces of ivory, with some black substance filling a hole in 
the center of each to indicate tlie \m\n\. 

An oblong wooden box from Xunivak island (number i:;s7,Si is made 
of two pieces, the lower twothirds fbrnnng the main part ;ind the other 
tlie cover, which is held iu place by two bone pegs inserted in the lower 
edge, at each end, and tittiiig into corresponding holes in the ends of 
the lower portion of the box. On the sides and ends of the box are inlaid 
S(iuare strips of ivory, about Inilf an inch from the edge, ;tnd a number 
of small ivory pegs are set in the space between the inlai<l stiijis. 



The manufacture of iiottery from clay is widely spread among the 
Eskimo with whom 1 came in contact, but the women are the oidy 
l)Otters. The process of in;iking vessels from day. as witnessed ;it St 
Michael, is as follows: 

A quantity of tough, blue clay is moistened and kneaded tlioroughly 
with the hands until it assumes ])lasticity ; then short, tough blades of a 
species of marsh grass and a small quantity of line, black, volcanic sand 
from the beach are mixed with it. A round. Oat layer of the i)repared 
ciay is worked out to form the bottom of the vessel, and about the edge 
of this a wall is built ui) with a thin band of clay, carried around a luim- 
ber of times until the desired height is reached. The top is then 
smoothed, and is either left plain or slightly scalloped with the lingers. 
The sides of the vessels are usually left plain, but .sometimes they 
are ornamented with a series of simple, incised lines made with a stick. 
Several vessels obtained at 8t Michael have the sides curving slightly 
until near the top, where they are somewhat constricted and the rim 
is made slightly tiaring. 

After the shaping anil the ornamentation of the vessel are comiileted, 
it is placed near the tire until it becomes dry; then a tire is built both on 
the inside and the outside, and it is baked lor an hour or two witii as 
great a heat as can be obtained. 

In a summer camp at Hothain inlet a number of pots were seen, 
varying in capacity from two to three gallons. Several of tlie larger 
ones had the tops scalloped and were slightly constricted in outline 
below the rim. On the sides they were ornamented with short, paral- 
lel, horizontal lines, beginning near the rim and forming a band extend- 
ing to the bottom, as shown in figure (JO, from a sketch made at the 
time. 



2():> THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.axn 18 

Dcspiti' the aliility sliowii by tlie p]skiino of this region in carving- 
bone and ivory, I saw ouly two efforts made at modeling in clay beyond 
tlic nianufactnre of pots and lamps. These were both rude clay dolls, 
obtained ut a village on the lower Ynkon. 

A si)e('inien of earthenware from St Michael (number 430GS) is 9 inches 
hi;;li by 10[ wide. Around the inside, near the top, occurs a series of 
small incised dots; on the inside of the rim are live parallel incised 
grooves, just below a broader groove which borders the edge; the 
upi)er surface of the edge is marked also with a sliallow groove. 
Another vessel from the same locality has three lines of dots around its 
outer border, near the rim, with two sets of double parallel grooves, 
and just inside the slightly flaring rim are four roughly made grooves. 
From St Lawrence island were obtained some small clay vessels 
which were used for suspending over ignited lamps. One of these (fig- 
ure 13, plate XXVIII) is 4i inches long, o^ wide, and li in depth. It 
is ((uadrate in outliue, with rounded corners, each of which is provided 
with two holes through which are passed 
strips of whalebone by which it was sus- 
]iended. A similar vessel from the same 
locality (number 63r)4(>) measures 6 inches 
in length, 4| in width, and 2 inches iu 
depth; it has a small lug at each corner, 

fnear the njjper edge, pierced for tlie recep- 
tion of the cord by which it was suspended 
over the lamp. Another of these small pots 
^ from the same place (figure 1, plate xxviii) 

^jjjf is oval at the ends, with the sides nearly 

parallel. It measm-es S.i inches in length 

I?l(,.60-Cl,lj pot ti.iiM H.itli.uulnltt. , , , , " 

by 3 broad, and a little over au inch in 
depth. Another specimen from the same island (number G2o4T) is fash- 
ioned like the i)receding three vessels, all of which are too small for use 
in cooking food, and probably served for the purpose of trying out seal 
oil for use in the lamps. 

MATS, liASKpyrS, AND HAGS 

From the shore of Norton sound to the Kuskokwim the women are 
expert in weaving grass mats, baskets, and bags, (irass mats are used 
on the sleeping benches and for wrapping around bedding. They are 
used also as sails for kaiaks, and formerly were utilized as sails for 
umiaks. They now frequently serve as curtains to partition off the 
corners of a room or a sleeping i)latform. Small mats are placed also 
in the manholes of kaiaks to serve as seats. The bags are used for 
storing fish, berries, and other food sui)plies, or for clothing. Smaller 
bags and baskets are made for coutaining small articles used in the 
house. 

At Chukwuk, on the lower Yukon, 1 saw a woman making one of 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNCILO.VV 






Jt^ ' ' 






t 




W iitfii"-n- 




S^l^ / "^E^. IW\?, 












OBJECTS OF GRASS AND SPRUCE ROOT one-eighTH- 



'"=''°'''l ^I\TS, I!ASKI:TS. AM) 1!A(IS 203 

tlies,. mats and watclied tl.c procfss sli,. cinplov.'.!. A set oC tl„v,. ,„• 
Ibmsiraws Wfre twisted and the ends tnined in, Cm inin..- u struul -i 
nuinhei- of wliicl. ucio airanov.l side hy side with their .mhIs fastened 
aloiij;- a stick, forminf-- one end of tlie mat and han-in- down foitlie 
warp. Another strand was tlieri used as a woof. I!y a deft twist of 
the tino-ers it was carried from one side to tlie otiier. passing- above and 
below the strands of tlie warp; then the woof strand was ],assed 
around the outer strand of the warp and turned to ie|)eal tlie operation. 
The strands were made eontinnons hyaddinj;- straws as necessary, and 
with eacli motion the strands were twisted a little so as to keep" them 
lirinly together. I'.y this simple method a vaiiety of ],atterns are 
produced. 

Figure l.">, plate Lxxi\, iliustralcs a coiiiinon sleei)ing mat of the 
kind used by the i;skimo from Kotzebue sound to the Iviiskokwim. It 
was obtained on Norton sound. The .size of these mats varies; the 
example shown is I feet long hy,;-! wide, but they aie sometimes made 
twice this size. 

A toy gra.ss mat, made for use with a doll (ligure S, plate i.xxivi. is 
also from Norton sound. It is woven in the same way as the larger 
mats, except that the warj) is twisted at intervals and the strands 
are crossed, thus i)roducing- small <iuadrate openings in the pattern. 

lu making gra.ss bags, they are started from a jioint at the bottom, 
where the strands of the warp, consisting; of two or more grass steins, 
are fastened together and extend vertically downward. Tiie woof is 
formed by a double strand of grass which is twisted about itself with 
the strands of the warp inclosed in the turns: both are continually 
twisted as the weaving progresses. In (loar.sely made bags, the strands 
of the woof are spaced from au inch to two inches apart, and those of 
the warp at intervals of from a (piarter to half an inch. These bags 
have a couical bottom, which slojies from the center to the sides. At 
the mouth the ends of the warp are braid(!d to form a continuous edge. 

Figure 14, plate Lxxiv, represents one of these loosely woven bags 
from Norton sound. These bags, when used for storing lish,. sometimes 
contain ti'oni 50 to 100 pounds, which is frozen into a solid mass and 
packed away in stoiehouses for use during the months when Iresh Ibod 
can not be obtained. The conteDts becnmie so thoroughly frozen by the 
intense cold of winter that when required for use the mass has to be 
separated by use ot wedges and mauls. 

Another bag from Norton scmiid (lignn^ 11, ])late i.xxiv) is simihir to 
the preceding, except that the bottom has a long, narrow base instead 
of ending in a point. Along the mouth the strands of the warp are 
brought together in little braids abimt an inch and a half in length, 
.spaced at intervals of about half an inch and merged into a thick, 
braided border, which forms the rim. The weaving is done as in the 
specimen last described, excejit that the warj) consists of two grass 
stems, extending down the sides to the bottom, without being twisted. 



20-1 THE ESKIMO AHOUT ItERING STRAIT [eth. ann. 18 

'J'lic woof is twisted, Imr the stniiids are spaced only a little over a 
quarter of an imdi apart. 

A iKiu- obtained at St Michael by Mr L. M. Turner (ligure 0, plate 
i,x\i\ ) is somewhat similar to the preceding specimens, but the warp 
is divided alternately by the twisted strands of the woof, forming a 
sli,;ht]y zigzag pattern from near the mouth to the edge of the bottom, 
where the warp extends again in parallel lines. 

A closely woven bag, intended to hold clothing (ligure 13, plate 
Lxxiv), is from the lower Kuskokwim. It is made like the example 
from St JMichuel, except that the solid w^eaving of the sides extends to 
the braid at the mouth. The warp extends up and down the sides, as 
usual, and the strands of the woof are woven dose together, forming 
a compact, thick texture. Several black lines of varying width extend 
around the bag, and are made by interweaving strands of blackened 
sinew cord. This pattern and another of ornamental black bauds are 
made in the country between Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers and thence 
southward to Bristol bay. One s|)ecimeu from the latter locality, in 
addition to the black lines, has three broken bands of russet brown, 
made l)y drawing small strips of brown leather through the warp. 
From the lower Kuskokwim was obtained also a grass bag, 11 inches 
in height and Ij inches across the bottom, woven in the same manner 
as the last specimen. It is circular in shai)e around the sides ami 
widest near the bottojii, narrowing gradually to near the top, which is 
suddenly constricted to an opening live inches iu diameter. 

The people of the lower Yukon and thence northward to Kotzebiie 
sound make various sizes of grass baskets of a coil pattern. A strand 
of grass is laid iu a coil forming the warp, the woof is then woven iu 
by interlacing grass stems, and the coil is continued until the Hat bot- 
tom is completed. The coils are then superimposed one upou the other 
until the basket is built. up to the top, where it is narrowed iu to form 
a circuhir, oval, or square oi)ening. Frequently the coil is commenced 
on the bottom around a vacant space, from an inch to three inches iu 
diameter, into which is sewed a piece of rawhide. The ritu at the top 
has the grass brought over and neatly turned in on the under side, 
forming a smoothly finished edge. 

One of these baskets (number 481.'5!)), used for storing clothing and 
various small articles, which was obtained from the mouth of the Y ukon, 
measures lO.i inches in height by 13 inches in width, with an opening 
at the top 10 inches in diameter. A basket of this description from 
Kushunuk (figure 7, plate lxxiv) is roughly quadrate in outline, with 
rouiuled corners; it has the bottom woven in the same manner as those 
of the bags which have been described. Another basket, obtained on 
Pntnara river by Lieutenant Stoney (figure 10, plate lxxiv), has a flat 
bottom, with a long, oval piece of rawhide iu the center; the sides 
rouiul gradually upward to an oval opening. 

A basket from St Michael (figure 1, i)late i.xxiv) has a flat bottom, 



^'■■-'0^1 r.ASKKTS — SI.KDS 205 

witli a center made tVom a pien'oi' nnvliidc; ili,. sides. l)uilt ii|) „|', oils 
narrow inward to tlie top, wIut.' tli.'v an- sii(|,|<-iil.v n.nstriritMl lo ;i 
rolled rim sniTonnding- till" circuLiroiicniii..'. Tlieliasket IVoiii tlie li)«,.|- 
Yukon shown in ti-nre I. i.Iatc iA\i\ . li;is a tl;,t Iir,it„in with a .ir- 
cnlarpieceofrawbicle in the center. A (lonhlestraii.lol-rass is twisted 
into the woof between eaeli of the eoils on the siilcs. jirodiiein^' a 
donhly ridged surface. The toj, has a sliuhi rim aionnd ilie.ennal 
opening. 

A toy basket from the lower Yukon (ligure.'i, plate i.wivi has the 
warp varied at intervals witli grass cords passed around the surface, 
about a third of au inch apart, in three parallel mws. The>e eord.s 
consist of three strainis, only one of whicli is woven into the warji, 
halving the remaiuder in relief on the surface. 

Figure 6, plate lxxiv, shows a basket from St Michael, in this 
specimen the coil start.s from the center of the Hat liottom; the sides 
slope slightly outward and end at the npiier edge without being con- 
stiicted, forming a dish shape. Another basket from the coast of 
Korton sound has the usual Hat bottom: the sides slope slightly out- 
ward, swell around the middle, ami then are drawn in again toward 
the top to form a rim around the opetiiiig. 

Ou the lower Yukon coiled baskets are made of spruce roots, whicli 
form very strong, rigid walls. They vaiy in form, but all have tiat 
bottoms. A basket of this* kimi, from that locality (tigure 1', plate 
LXXIV), is roughly quadrate in form, with rounded corners. The sides 
are nearly straight, but are constricted abruptly above, forming a 
neck like riiu about an inch high, which surrounds tlie s(puire opening 
in the top. Another si)ei'imen, from Sledge islaiul (figure .'>, plate 
LXXiv),is round in shape, with the sides slightly curved ami constricted 
above to a slightly tlaring tip around the opening. 

The most elaborately tinished si)ecimen procured is shown in ligure 
1-, plate Lxxiv. This was obtained from the lower Yukon district. 
It is round in shape, with slightly curving .sides, wiiich are constricted 
abruptly to the neck of a slightly tlaring rim. It has a tiattened 
conical top. which has two small sinew hinges, and is fastened in front 
with sinew cords: a loop of the same material on the top forms the 
handle. 

A "housewife" of woven grass, obtained on the lower Yukon, is 
woven with oi)enw(irk similar to tlie bags which hav<' lieen described. 

TKAVKI. AM) rWANSI'OIMA HON 

SLKDS 

The Alaskan Eskimo of the maiidand ami on all the islands about 
Bering strait, including St Lawrence; island, use dngs and sleds tor 
winter traveling, riate LXXV. from a piiotograidi taken at St Michael, 
represents a Maleuuit family ready to start on a Journey. On the 



206 THE ESKIMO AliOUT F.EHIN(; STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

Aiiicniau coast and adjacent islands sleds from 9 to 10 feet in k'n.utli 
are bnilt str()u.nly of driftwood. Tlicir runners are from 2 to 3 inches 
liroad and from V. to 7 inclies liigli. They are straight nearly to the 
front, where they curve up regularly to the level of the bed. Aloug 
tiie sides lour or five stauchious are mortised iuto the upper edge of 
the runners and project upward about 2i to o feet; the ends of bow- 
siiape pieces of wood are also mortised iu the top of the runners, and 
both these and the stanchions are fastened with wooden pins. These 
bow-shai)e pieces curve upward and iuward about five inches above the 
to])S of the runners, forming the supports on which rests the bed of 
the sled, which is from 10 to '2i inclies iu width, and is formed of a kind 
of latticework. A crescentic or bow-shape piece of wood is fastened 
across the front, from which two long, thin, wooden slats run length- ' 
wise to the rear, where they rest on the upcurved bows, to which they 
are lashed. Across these pieces a series of thin wooden slats are lashed 
by rawhide cords passed through holes and corresponding holes in the 
longitudinal slats, which extend out to the rear line of the runners and 
have a long strip of wood lashed along each side. A long wooden rod 
is fastened firmly to the upturned point of the runner on each side and 
extends to the rear of the sled, resting on the tops of the stanchions, 
forndng a rail. A stout rawhide cord is passed through holes in the 
top of the stanchions and wound around the rail, holding it firmly in 
])ositiou. The rail usually projects a few inches beyond the last stan- 
chiim on each side, forming handles for guiding the sled. Some sleds 
also have a crosspiece resting on the last stanchions at the rear. On 
the sides a stout rawhide cord is fastened at the end of the rail and is 
passed down around the side bar of the bed and back to the rail again 
in a diagonal or zigzag pattern along the entire length, thus forming 
a netting, which prevents articles from falling from the sled. Inside 
of this netting it is customary to place a large sheet of canvas or of 
skins sewed together to form a covering for the load. The flaps are 
folded over the top, and a rawhide lashing from rail to rail holds the 
load tirndy iu place. From five to nine dogs are attached to large sleds 
of this (iharacter, and a considerable load can be hauled on them. With 
seven dogs it is customary, on trips along the coast of Norton sound, to 
haul a load weighing ;50(t or 400 i)ounds. 

Smaller sheds, from ;") to 6 feet in length, are used about the villages 
or for short journeys. 

Figure 10, plate Lxxvi, represents a model of one of these sleds, 
which was obtained at the head of Norton sound. A simpler form of 
sled also is used by the people along the coast Irom Kotzebue sound 
to the Yukon mouth. The runners are of the same fashion as those 
last described, to which a stout crosspiece is fastened on the inside of 
the upturned ends, and two or three short stanchions, to S inches in 
lieight, are mortised into their upper edge. A rail on each side is 
lashed against the crosspiece and extends backward, resting upon and 



''f-L-o^l SI.KDS 2fl7 

laslied to the tops of tlie staiidiions to 101111 rails. <'ioss|.ii-ci's con. 
nwt tbe sides of the sled between tlie siaiicliions. 

These sleds are very li.-ht. wcifihing only IVom i:, t„ l'o ,,ouiids. 
They are used for shor( liiiiitiiiffor lishinn; trips, and arc liaulcd usually 
by the hunter himself. In tlie sprinjr tlicy are us.-d by iiniiters to haiil 
their kaiaks 011 the sea ice to open water, or to the cracks that are 
openinj;-. When such a break is reached, the hunter places tlie sled 011 
the top of the kaiak, back of the maiihole. and paddles across to the 
other side, where he disembarks, places the kaiak on the sled, and 
re.sumes his Journey. In this inanner these people make loiij; trips 
over the sea ice in search of .seals and walrus. 




When a hunter wishes to make a trip to the mountains in winter in 
search of reindeer and does not care to take dogs with liiiii. he fre- 
quently loads his provisions, bedding, and gun on one of these light 
sleds and drags it to the camping place. 

The accompanying illustration (tigure OIj, from a iihotograidi, rep- 
resents a deer hunter leaving St Michael with one of these sleds for 
a winter hunt in the mountains backward from the coast. 

Both of the styles of sleds described are in common use over nearly 
the entire coast district visited. 

The runners of the larger sleds are coiiiiuonly shod with thin. Ihit 
strips of bone— sawed from the Jawbone of a whale— of the same 
width as the runner, and fastened on with wooileii pegs; the smaller 



2(iS 



THE ESKIMO AliOUT HERING STKAIT 



sleds coiiiiiKiiily liave the runners unsiiod. altlion.uli soiuetiiiies strii)s of 
bone, are used lor that purpose. 

Figure (W illustrates a sled from I'lover bay, Siberia, which is the 
style used on St Lawreuee island and the adjaeeut Siberian coast. It 
is niodeled after those used by the Chukchi of eastern Siberia. ■ The 
runners are made from pieces of driftwood; they are suboval in cross 
section, about 1' inches wide by 1| thick, and taper toward the front. 
To the front ends of the runners is lashed an ovei'lapping piece of wood 
of the same width and about half an inch thick, which extends down 
the under side of the runner and is curved up over the back, reaching 
midway to the rear of the sled, where it is lashed to the end of a tiat 
piece of wood which serves as the rail. Howed pieces of reindeer 
horn are tixed in the tops of the runners, to which they are fastened by 
whalebone or rawhide lashings. Two flattened sticks extend from the 
top of the first bow to a little beyond the last one, to form a resting 
place for the bed of the sled and to which it is lashed. Crosspieces 
are then lashed to these sticks. On each side a brace is formed by a 
rod of wood, which is lashed against the side of the stringer and to the 




runner 15 inches in front of the rear end and extending obIi(|uely for- 
ward under the bed. At the rear end a bow of wood is lashed to the 
last deerhorn bow under the bottom, forming a curve about 10 inches 
high above the bed; from each side of this, near the top, another bow 
extends forward and downward to the base of the second deerhorn 
bow, where it is tirmly lashed. To serve as a shoe, a thin, flat piece of 
wood is fastened to the lower sid(! of each runner by )-awhide lashings 
l)assed through the runner and through holes in the shoe, which are 
countersunk, so that the friction against the surface of the snow or 
rocks shall not cut the cord. The load is fastened on these sleds with 
rauhide cords, and the attachment for hauling is made to the forward 
jiart of the runners and the lirst crosspiece. 

This form of sled is used with dogs by the Eskimo and sedentary 
Chukchi of the Asiatic coast, and with reindeer by the reindeer using 
Chukchi of that region. 

Figure 1, plate Lxxvi, reiuesents another style of sled, from St 
LaAvrence island, used for transporting to the village the meat and blub- 
ber from the place where the game is killed. It is about 15 inches in 
length and the same in width, and has two stout, walrus-tusk run- 
ners about 15 inches long, an inch and a half deep, and two-thirds of an 



.IRE4U OF AMERICAN E 




MODEL OF SLED FRAME. WITH OTHER OBJECTS USED IN TRANSPOHTATION THREE-sixTEENTHb' 



SI.EDS — Dug IIAI.'M.ss 



209 



luch^vl(ll.: they I.ave a llan.-e lik.. proje.-tiii- e.lu,- alon.- tl,.- ontsi.l,. 
of the upper bonier, aiul are hel.l tojjether l.v three n„n„le.l uon.U... 
crossbars 14 niches Ion-, witli two -rooves in their en.ls. l,,.].! in posi 
tion )).v strong- rawhi.le h.shin<;s tliat pass tiirou-li tw., holes in the 
upper edges of the runneis. Tlir fnnit ends of the runners are enrved 
upward and iiave a lar-e sh)t in them for attaehin- the n.rd by which 
the sled is hauled. In th(^ rear end of each runner are two h,.]es, in 
which are inserted stout rawliide loops, and a liolc just in front of the 
second crossbar serves for another rawhi.lc |„op: these loops icceive 
the lashings with whicli tiie load is licld in place. 

UOd IIAKM'.SS AM) Aeti.lTKK'MK.NrS 

The ordinary style of harness n.sed for dogs is made of rawhide 
strai)s. It consists of a collar with a strap extending down fiom the 
back of the neck to the middle of tlie back, where it meets a strap 
which passes from the hiwer part of the collar between the forelegs 
and up on each side over the ribs, to be attached to the back strap: at 
this point is made fast the leading line, which is from three to live 
feet long, and is attached either directly to tiie front of the sled or to a 
single straight leading line fastened to the sled and extending forward 
to a distance sutlicient for the attachment of all the dogs belonging to 
tiie team. When the team consists of more than three dogs, they are 
attached to the main leading line in pairs, with tlie most intelligent 
dog iu front as a leader. 

^yhen the hiad is very heavy, or the dogs an^ too numerous to work 
well in a single team, they may be attached to the forward stanchions, 
sometimes mw or (!ven two on each side, in addition to the team in 
front. 

On the islands of FSering strait and along the Asiatic coast, long- 
handle whips are used for driving dogs: specimens of these were 
obtained on Sledge, King, and St Lawrence islands. The handles of 
the whips from King and St Lawrence islands an; round rods of spruce, 
a little over forty inches in length, and have rawhide la.shes fastened 
to them with sinew cord. 

One of these whips from St Lawrence island itiaure l-l, plate LWVI) 
has a lash made from a piece of si^alskin, with the edges sewed together, 
forming a round C(jrd, with a slender strip of .sealskin at the tip for a 
cracker. On the handle is a ferule of walrus ivory, rndely represent 
ing the head of a white bear; the end of the handle is wedged into the 
ferule, which projects spur-like on one side. 

A King island whip (number J.VtOT) has a stout lash made of a piece 
of walrus hide, with a small rawhide cracker at the ti|). At the butt 
of the handle is a round ivory ferule, sloping to a flaring rim. which 
extends around it. The use of these whijis also extends to the main- 
land of the American coast al Cape I'rinceof Wales, and thence north- 
ward to Point Hope on the Arctic coast. 
LS ETII 14 



210 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STKAIT [eth.ann.18 

Tlie KskiiiKi to tlae southward of Bering strait use sliort-ljandle whips 
with a h)!!!;- lasli, .ueiierally of braided rawhide, hirgest just iu front of 
its artacliinont to the handk-. and tapering to a point at the end, which 
is provided with a sealskin cracker. 

The ferules used on the handles of these whips vary considerably 
in form, as is shown in the specimens illustrated. One example, from 
8t Lawrence island (tigure 7, plate LXXVI), is slightly spoon-shape in 
outline, projecting spur like on one side. A round ferule from the 
Diomede islands (figure 11, plate Lxxvi) is of walrus ivory and has a 
lobe-like projection on each side. I'lgure 9, plate lxxvi, shows a 
round ivory ferule from Sledge island, with a carving representing the 
head of a white bear projecting on one side. Another, from Point 
Hope (tigure 10, plate lxxvi), is a small ivory specimen with a flattened 
spur on one side. 

In many localities I found iu use swivels made of bone, deerhorn, 
ivory, or wood, which were fastened to the cords by which dogs were 
attached to stakes or other objects, to prevent the cords from becoming 
twisted by the movement of the animals. 

Figure 13, plate lxxvi, represents a large wooden swivel of this 
kind from Eazbinsky, on the lower Yukon. It consists of a round 
wooden rod, deeply notched on one side, with a hole pierced through 
the head formed l)y the notch, through which is inserted a stout 
wooden rod with a large head. In the opposite ends of the two rods 
are holes in which cords are fastened. 

Swivels exactly similar in design, but made of deerhorn or ivory, 
were obtained on the Diomede islands, St Lawrence island, on Kowak 
river at the head of Kotzebue sound, and at Point Belcher on the 
Arctic coast. Figure 2, plate lxxvi, represents one of these ivory 
swivels from the Diomede islands. 

Another style of swivel used similarly to the preceding, as well as on 
dog harness to i)revent the lines from becoming twisted, is made by 
inserting a large-head rod of deerhorn or ivory in a hole in the center 
of a scpiare or oval block of the same material, around the borders of 
which are four holes, to which are attached cords with their euds 
fastened together a few inches beyond their starting points. Figure 
12, plate lxxa^i, shows such a swivel from L^nalaklit, made of deer- 
horn, with a square block on the head. Another swivel of this char- 
acter, with an oval head (figure G, plate lxxvi), is from Cape Nome. 
A similar specimen was obtained on Kowak river. 

A deerhorn swivel from the lower Yukon (figure 8, plate lxxvi) has 
a head roughly triangular in shape, with two hides for the lines ; through 
another hole in the center is a deerhorn rod with a large head and with 
a hole at the small end for the attachment of a cord. 

In adilition to swivels, small, double eye blocks are also commonly 
used on dog harness; these are cut from bone, deerhorn, or ivory, and 
have holes passing through them in two directions. Blocks of this 



'"^'•'•»1 I>OG HAHNKSS— IJKKAST YOKKS 211 

cliaracter were obtained from various localities between \orton souii.l 
and Point Hope, on the Arctic euast, and thence across l!e,injr strait to 
the coast of Siberia, and on St Lawrence island. 

Figure 4, plate Lxxvi, illustrates a small ivory block of this charac- 
ter, from St Lawreni-e island. It is somewhat pearshape. with a hole 
through one end, surrounded by a lip or bead like elevation: this hole 
and a groove on each side arc intended to receive a permanent cord. In 
a direction transverse to this hole is a larger (me. through whu'h the 
cord is passed in making a temporary attaclimeut. Another of these 
blocks from St Lawrence island i figure 5, plate i.xxvi) has an incised 
groove, forming a neck, between the two holes. 

Some of these blocks are very rudely shaped, as is shown in liyure :i 
plate Lxxvi, from St Lawrence island. This example is cut without 
any attemjjt to round olf the corners. Aiu)ther very plainly made 
specimen was obtained at rnalaklit. 

In addition to the use of dogs for hauling sleds, it is a common prac 
tice among the Eskimo when traveling in summer to put their dogs on 
shore and harness them to a long line attached to the bow of the boat, 
one of the party remaining on shore to drive the dogs, which travel 
along the beach and pull the boat. l>y the emi)loyment of this means 
much hibor is saved. 

BREAST YOIiES 

From Xunivak island southward beyond the mouth of Kuskokwim 
river the people are in the habit of using breast yokes when (tarrying 
heavy burdens on their backs; they are made of tiattened pieces of 
wood, crescentic in form, with a hole at one en<l through which a cord 
is fastened; at the other end is a knob like enlargement, witii a notch 
on its outer side, over which a loop on the end of the cord can be 
slijjped. 

Figure 14, plate lxxvi, illustrates one of these breast yokes, which 
was obtained on Xunivak island by Uoclor \V. IL Dall. It consists of a 
tiattened board, slightly caescentic in shape, about three inches wide 
and half an inch in thickness. On the curved front is carved in relief a 
human face, the eyes, mouth, and nostrils bc-ing inci.sed, as are also 
four parallel lines extending downward from near the corners of the 
mouth, to represent tattooing; across the front each way from the face 
is a broad groove which nariows to a point at the outer end, along each 
eilge of which are set six small reindeer teeth. The face, grooves, and 
tips of the yoke are painted red: the remainder of the front and n\)\m- 
border is black. Doctor Dall obtained another yoke of this kind on 
Nunivak island; it has a beveled front and a .slight ridge along the cen- 
ter, which is narrow in the middle but broader toward the ends. 

A yoke from Chalitmut (number .■5()(lL'3t is constricted in the middle 
and expanded into a wing like form toward each end. 



212 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT HICRING STRAIT 



SNOWSIIOES 

Ainoii.^' tlie western E.skiiiii> snowslioes are in coininoii use. They 
are nf tlie greatest service fur tra\'eliu,n, both over the sea ice and on 
laiiil, and are used by both men and women, but more hirgely of course 
by nieu, as their more active life necessitates almost constant travel 
while hunting, visiting uettiug places on the ice, or traps on the shore. 
For traveling on land, where the snow is sorter and deeper than on the 
sea ice, snowshoes with larger aiul finer netting are used. Figure 03 
represents snowshoes, used for land travel, which were obtained near 
the head of Norton bay. Tiiey are made of two pieces of wood, spliced 
in front where they curve upward at the toe, held together by means of 




two crossbars in the middle, before and behind the foot-rest. The net- 
ting in front of the tirst crossbar is hexagonal in sliape, and in the rear 
consists of ten cords passing through holes in the hindmost crossbar 
and converging to the thong tliat binds the frame together at the heel. 
The foot rest is on a stout netting made of widely spaced crosscords 
attached to the framework on the sides as well as to the crossbar.s. 

This is the general style of snowshoe worn about the shores of 
Norton sound and thence southward to the Kuskokwim, and up lower 
Yukon and Ivuskokwim rivers. Various forms of coarsely netted 
snowshoes are used on the sea ice at different points along the coast. 

Figure C4 shows the style of snowshoe used at Cape Darby. The 
frame is in two i)ieces, rounded in cross section and tapering in front, 
where they are curved strongly upward at the ends which overlap and 



NELSON] SNOWSIIOIvS 213 

arc laslied tosctbcr. At tlic lied the rim tapers backward to a point 
aud is lield together by a rawiiide lasliino-; the foe iietliii- is replaced 
by a cord passing (Voni side (o side and t\v.. other erosrcords which 
pass diagonally tVoMi near tlie point of the nptnrned toe to l:oIes in 
the front of the crossbar. The foot rest is made of a strong cord of 
rawhide passed tiirough lioles in the side of tlie frame and^over the 




front and rear of the crossbars, forming a ])atteru somewhat similar to 
that in the shoes usi^d on land. 

A ronghly oval shoe from ley cape (lignre (i.")) is rndely made and 
pointed at the heel. The spaces in front and behind the crossbars are 
tilled with line netting of babiche, which is fastened through holes in 
tlie rim. The foot-rest is made by rectangular netting fastened through 
holes in the sides of the framework and over the front and rear cross- 
bars. These shoes are intermediate in character between those used 
on land and the ones intended for service on sea ice. 

A short, stoutly inade shoe from St Lawrence island i tignre (id) has 
the framework oblong in cross section, with the corners slightly 
rounded and turned ui)ward abruptly at the toe, the curve connnenc- 




ing immediately in front of the tirst crossbar. The ends of the side- 
pieces meet at the toe and aie held lirndy together by a lashing of 
whalebone passed through holes. Tlie rear crossbar is close to the 
heel, which is held in position by the end of the cord used for the foot- 
rest, which passes through a hole on one side, and, ciossing the trian- 
gular space behind the last crossbar, is tied through a hole in the 



14 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



opposite side. Tiie space between the front ami rear crossbars occupies 
almost the entire area of the shoe and is crossed by a stout netting of 
rectangular pattern, with some of the strands passing diagonally, pro- 
ducing a combination of patterns. These coarsely netted shoes are 
intended for use upon frozen snow or on the rough surface of the sea 
ice, for which purposes they are very serviceable, as the masses of 
broken ice have many small openings large enough for the foot to pass 
through, which render traveling very difficult without such assistance. 
By aid of these shoes hunters are enabled to travel safely and fre- 
quently to pass over weak places where newly made ice would not 
otherwise support them. On the Asiatic coast the Eskimo use snow- 
shoes similar to those from St Lawrence island that have been 
described, and others rather more elongated but similar in general 
pattern. 




ICE STAFFS 

When traveling or hunting on the sea ice there is great risk of 
breaking through thin places which have been (concealed by drifted 
snow. To guard against this danger the people are in the habit, at 
certain seasons, of carrying a stout wooden staff with a strong ivory 
or bone point, two or three inches long, inserted in the lower end and 
fastened by a strong wrapping of sinew. Around the base of this 
point is fastened a hoop of bone or deerhorn, luiug to the staff by a 
cord passed through a hole above the point. A ring of bone or horn 
surrounds the base of the point, and between it and the outer hoop 
strong cross-lashings of rawhide form a sort of netting. 

In walking over suspicious places in the ice the traveler plants the 
staff solidly before him previous to taking a step; if the ice be thin the 
point of the staff goes through, but the hoop comes in contact with a 
broader surface and prevents the staff from sinking farther. lu this way 



«"-'•*"-■>) ICK STA1-1-\S AND CKKl'.l'l'.US 

the weight of the man is distillmted over tliic' iu>inis. ami tl 
is oCten ciial.h-.l to j.ass over places which 
othiTwiso woiihl not support liiin. 

These staffs arc alsoiised in siitiinicr travel. 
DnriuK this season tlic tmniras are covereil 
with tussocks and soft beds ..f splia^Miuni. 
wJiich render walking excessively laborious 
andditlicult. I'.y useoftiiestaff the tiaveier 
is enabled to walk more salely, and by lessen 
ing- the weiglit on his feet, does not sink so 
deeply in sjwnuy patches of umss or in senii- 
nuirshy groninl. 

Figure (!7 illustrates one of tiiese ice stall's 
from Cape Xome. 

Au ice staff from Point I'.arrow (ligure OS) 
cousists of a round wooden stad' nearly ti\-e 
feet in length, the lower end being tipped 
with a cap of ivory, held in jdace by a pin 
through its base. Tiirough the ui)per end is 
a hole, in which is a sealskin loop for hang- 
ing the staff on the wrist. 

UK CUEKl'IOUS 

Ice creejjers are used to i)revent the feet 
from slipping while traveling over the sea 
ice or frozen snow in s])ring. In some of 
them the central groove is deepened to form 
au oblong slot, piercing through, and on 
others the points are formed in grouijs near 
each end. 

Figure 01) i.i) rei)resents a i>air((f ice creep- 
ers from Cape Darby, consisting of snndl, flat, 
oblong ivory rods 3A inches in length, with 
the upper surface slightly rounded and the 
lower side having a deep, tlat groove extend 
ing lengtliwise along the middle, leaving 
two high ridges that are crossed by deep 
grooves,])roducing a row of pyramidal i)oints 
ailing each edge. The ends arc laovided 
x„..u,-..x^u.u,j,. with two holes, in which are fastened the 
rawhide cords by which the crecjiers are 
attached to the sole of the boot. 

A pair of ice creepers from St Lawrence island (ligure <i!>, ■">) 
are in the form of flat, ivory bars, about t inches long and an i ■••• 
inch wide. Eight small holes are drilled into the lower sur- 
face, in which are inserted small, round-pointed iron .spikes: ihei 




216 



THE ESKIMO AI'.OLT BERING STRAIT 



two liolcs tlironii'li each end for the cords by whidi they are fastened 
to tlie foot. Figure ••9(1 and 1*0 sbow the upper aud lower surfaces 
of a broader and heavier pair of ice creepers irom the ])iouiede islands, 
Tliey are turned up at the ends to retain them in place on the foot, and 
Iiave four rows of pyramidal points alouy the lower surface. 

Figure 00 (2 and 4), from St Michael and St Lawrence island, respec- 
tively, represent ivory creepers with a low of pyramidal points along 
each side. Through the middle, between the rows of jjoints, is cut a 




long, rectangular slot, and in the ends of eacli arc holes for the cords 
by which they are fastened on. 

Other creepers of similar style were obtained from Plover bay ou 
the Siberian shore. 

BOATS 

The Fskimo of the Alaskan coast, the islands of Bering strait, and 
the coast of Siberia use large oj)en boats, varying in length from fifteen 
to forty feet, and made by covering a wooden framework with seal- 
skin or walrus-hide. These are the umiaks so well known from their 
use by (ireenlanders. Among the people from the head of Norton 
sound and northwaid to Foint Barrow, these boats are known as 
n'-inl'-i'(k : among the ITnalit of the eastern shore of Norton sound and 
southward they are called an'-hjiik. They vary in size according to 
locality or to the purpose for which they are made, and their i)attern 
also varies slightly with the locality. Originally they were proi)elIed 
by i)addles, after which slender-bla(ie oars were adopted in some locali- 
ties, and these are still usi'd. 

Although oars are in coinmon use, yet it is not rare to see umiaks 
proi)ellc(l Avliolly by paddles, as was done in ancient times. Paddles 



NKi-soN] BOATS, OARS, AXD SAILS 217 

were seen iu use at Cape I'lince of Wales on liciinj; strait, and at 
points uortliward and soutliwaid I'roiu that localily. 

The oars are held in place nsually by means of a rawhide Jashin-r 
made fast, on the inside of the boat, to the franiework. The steerin'' 
is always done with a larj^e, broad-lilade ]iaddle. 

In aneient times sails sometimes were improvised by sewinj; together 
grass mats and ]mttiiis them np between two lon.u' sticks, which were 
fastened to the framework of the umiak and stayeil by means of cords 
so as to extend upward and outward in Vshape form, one from each 
side of the boat. Later, after the arrival of white men, a sinjrle uprijiht 
mast with stays and with blocks made from bone or ivory, were a(lo|)ted 
in imitatiou of the riji'ginji' used on the shii>s of the stranj;er.s. 

Sails were uext made from the skins of reindeer or other animals, 
sewed to a proper size and shape ami fastened to a yard, which was 
raised or lowered by tackle made of walrus hide eord i)assed throu<;h 
an ivory or bone block or through a hole in the u])per end of the nmst. 
Some sails are still made of old deerskins or light sealskins sewed 
together, but many are seen of liglit canvas or drilling obtained from 
vessels or through fur traders. 

The framework of these boats is formed of neatly shaped pieces cut 
from driftwood and lasherl together with rawhide cords, which are 
])assed through holes drilled in the wood, as shown in the model, from 
St Michael, illustrated in plate lxxvii. ".S. The covering is of lieavy 
sealskin or walrus-hide, tanned to remove the hair, sewed into proper 
shape, and drawn over the framework. In the edges many little slits 
are cut, thvongh which is passed (he cord which lashes it to the frame- 
work on the inside under the rail. After it is in ])lace the lashings are 
drawn tightly and i)erinitte(l t() dry; as it eontraets the cover becomes 
as tight as a drumhead, after which several coats of seal oil are 
applied to the outside and allowed to become thoroughly dry, when 
the cover becomes impervious to water for a week or ten days, at the 
expiration of which time it becomes water soaked and it is then neces- 
sary to haul np the boat on the shore and, after allowing it to dry, to 
give it another coating of oil, otherwise the skins would rot. Travel- 
ing is done by day, and at night the boats are hauled up on the beach 
and turned bottom up or upon one edge, so that they may dry during 
the night. When treated carefully in the maniier described, the cover 
of an umiak will last for several years. 

In compariscm with the Norton sound umiak.s, I noticed that the 
boats used by the people of Bering strait have somewhat less sheer to 
the sides and are provided with tlai)s of sealskin about two feet wide, 
which are attached along the rail and folded down inside the boat lu 
fair weather; in rough weather these Haps are raised and held ni place 
by stout sticks lashed to the framework around the sides and their 
ends thrust into a series of holes or slots along the npi)er edge ot the 
flap. In addition to these, the i)eoi)le of P.ering strait carry sealskin 



218 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth, ann. 18 

floats, wliich are inflated and laslied uuder the rail ou the outside, to 
prevent the boat from swamiiing. 

Sometimes umiaks are driven out to sea by storms and their oceu- 
pants are unable to regain the shore, when the dashing spray and the 
wav(!s soak the cover and the rawhide lashings of the frame until they 
relax and the boat collapses, drowning all on board. 

From Kotzebue sound northward the umiaks are very similar to 
those of Norton sound, but are slightly narrower. At the former place, 
during the summer of 1881, I saw a number of umiaks, each of which 
had a figure of a man painted roughly in black close to the bow. 
The umiaks of the Yukon and adjacent country, and thence southward, 
are commonly ornamented, on the middle of each side, with the fig- 
ure of a mythic, alligator-like animal called pal-rai'-yuk; the head, with 
open mouth and projecting tongue, is close to the bow, while the tail 
readies the stern (figure 150). 

The umiaks seen among the Eskimo south of East cape, Siberia, at 
Mechigme bay, St Lawrence island, and Plover bay, were all very much 
narrower than those of Norton sound, and with very little sheer to 
their sides ; some of them seemed to have almost perpendicular sides. 
All of the umiaks used in the latter region are provided with a set of 
sealskin floats to fasten along the outside below the rail in rough 
weather, which render the boats very buoyant, and but little water can 
be shipped even in very stormy weather. With their boats fitted in 
this manner with inflated floats, these people sail fearlessly along their 
stormy coasts and cross back and forth between the mainland and St 
Lawrence island. 

The oars used in the umiaks of the American mainland are kept in 
position by means of rawhide stays, which are attached firmly to a 
notch in the part of the oar which rests on the rail; the stays extend 
fore-and-aft a short distance and are fastened to the side pieces ou the 
inside below the rail. The steering is performed with a broad-blade pad- 
dle. < >ii St Lawrence island oarlocks have been copied from those seen 
on whaling vessels. An example of these (figure 34, plate lxxviii), 
made of oak, is provided with a pin to fit in a hole in the rail of the 
boat, and its upper portion is pierced to receive the oar. 

Figure 19, plate lxxviii, represents an ivory block, from Sledge 
island, used for the rigging of an umiak. Another form of these blocks, 
from the same place, is shown in figure 20 of the same plate. A hand- 
somely made little block from Cape Nome (tigure 21, plate lxxviii), has 
the head of a seal carved in relief on the lower side. 

A smaller boat or canoe, called kai'dl; is also used along the Ameri- 
can coast and the adjacent islands; but I have never seen one among 
the people of the Siberian coast nor among the St Lawrence islanders. 
It is decked over, except a hole amidships, where the navigator sits. 
They vary somewhat in size and shape in diflerent localities, but the 
general plan of construction is the same. 



BUREAU UF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANN 



ANNUA, REPORT PL. 




MODEL OF UMIAK FRAME AND APPURTENANCES OF UMIAK AND KAIAK RIGGING THRCE-bUTEENT^- 



NELSOXl KAIAKS 210 

The frame consists of siniill strips of wood rniinin.u- len-tlnvisc mid 
brought tosetluT at tlie bow and stern: tlicy are eounected hv curved 
ribs, placed at short intervals and fastened hy rawhide cords; the how 
has a stem piece of wood, rou.shly triangular in form: another piece at 
the stern is flattened, hut varies in t'orni aceordini;- to tlie style of the 

kaiak in which it is placed. The rail is formed of a stroufr jiieeeof w 1, 

into which the ui>per ends of the ribs are nuntised, holditi-,' tlie r;iil in 
place and forming a supiwrt for the deck of the boat, in the middh- ot" 
which is a circular openinj;-, foriuinj;- the manhole, surrounded by a 
wooden hoop, which is fastened to two ])ieces extending to the bow and 
stern, and resting on the eross-jiieces which support the deck. On each 
side of the manhole is a short stanchion mortised into the rail ami tlie 
lower side of the rim of the manhole. The entire surface is covered 
witb sealskins, tanned with the hair taken off. aiid sewed together 
with sinew cord. The seams are oiled or coated with reindeer tallow, 
and the entire surface of the boat is thoroughly covered with oil. wliicii 
IS permitted to dry before the boat is jilaced in the water. 

In front of the manhole the decdc is crossed from side to side by two 
stout rawhide cords, three or four feet ajiart, and (uie or two similar 
cords are placed at the back of the nninhole; slipped on these cords at 
the rail, oii eacb side, are si)ur-likc i)ieces of deerhorn, ivory, or bone, 
which project upward and form a rest on which may be jilaccd the 
jiaddle or the hunting spears. 

Commencing with the kaiaks in use at Nnnivak island, the following 
descriptions show the dilferent forms \ised successively along the coast 
nearly to Point Barrow : 

I'ignre 2, plate Lxxix, illustrates a kaiak from Niiiiivak island, l.'i 
feet 1 inch long, 14 inches deep, with L'!l inches beam, .\nother kaiak, 
from the same island (ligure 1, plate i.XXix), is l.'> feet 1 iiu'h long. If 
inches deep, and has -'!» inches beam. These kaiaks are heavily made, 
the framework being strong and stoutly built, in order to withstand the 
stormy seas which they have to encounter alxmt this island. .\ similar 
form is in nse on the coast of the adjacent inaiidand. 

The manhole is placed a tritle back from the center: the rim is lashed 
to the rail by rawhide cords: the cross-pieces which sujjport the deck 
are upcurved toward the middle, forming a ridge, on the top of which 
is lashed a stout stick extending each way from the manhole to the bow 
and to the stern, where it projects as a short, handlelike. quadrate spur: 
below this the stern slopes downward, with a slight slant toward the 
front. The wooden parts on top of the bow are cut out, forming a 
large, round opening Just above the rail, around which the skin cover- 
ing is cnt away. On some of the kaiaks this oi)ening is made to repre- 
sent the eye of some mythological animal, the mouth of which is painted 
in black on the outside of the covering. In fiont, of the stern are two 
loopsof cord, which are attached to the central ridge, an.l hang on each 
side, so that the shafts of the s])ears, which lie on the ivory ivsts. may 
be thrust into them and I heir points placed un.ler the crosscord to 



220 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

Lolil tlicm firmly in place. The cross section of these kaiaks is slightly 
rounded along the keel, with a stronger broken curve along each side 
to till' rail. 

I'^igurc 3, plate Lxxix, shows a kaiak from St Michael. It is 10 
feet SA inches long and 12 inches deep, with 27i inches beam. 

The kaiaks of Norton sound are made lighter and narrower than 
those from iSTuuivak island. They are essentially the same iu the plan 
of framework except that the projecting stern extends out even with 
the spur-like point of the top-piece, which reaches back from the man- 
hole. In the bow this top piece extends forward to the upturned point 
of the stem, leaving a broad, slot like interspace. When these kaiaks 
are covered, the covering follows the point of the stem and of this cen- 
tral piece so as to leave an open si)ace. The same is done at the stern, 
so that there is a slot-like opening there. This projecting point at the 
stern serves as a handle for lifting the kaiak, as does the projecting 
point of the centerpiece at the bow. The central ridge, produced by 
the stick fastened along the top of the iii>turned crossi>ieces of the 
deck, is similar to that in the kaiaks from Nunivak island. 

Figure 4, plate lxxix, represents a kaiak from King island. It is 15 
feet 3 iuclies long, 13J inches deep, and has 2Si inches beam. These 
kaiaks are comparatively short and broad, with an npcurved bow very 
similar in form to that of the Xunivak island type, and with the same 
kind of circular opening through the bow piece. The stern is quite 
diflerent, however, as it extends back from the manhole nearly straight 
for a short distance and then curves regularly down to the level of the 
keel point. These kaiaks are strongly made; they are used in the 
stoi-niy watei-s of the strait, and sometimes are taken even to the Sibe- 
rian coast of the strait and to St Lawrence island. 

The kaiaks of jSTuuivak island and of Bering strait are curiously alike 
iu general form, corresponding in abroad bottom and in the strength of 
their framework. The Xunivak island kaiaks, however, are sometimes 
twice the size of those used in Bering strait, and at times the bow is 
very strongly upcurved and the projecting end piece on the top of the 
stern extends out, or out and down, so that the point reaches halfway 
to the level of the keel. 

At Kushunuk and Askinuk, as well as along the southern border of 
the Yukon mouth, the Xnnivak island style of kaiak is in use, but to 
the northward it gives way to the type used in Norton sound. Scmtli- 
ward from Nuuivak island there is a decrease in the size and height 
until they reach their minimum in the Aleutian islands. 

The kaiaks in use on the shores of Kotzebue sound are much smaller 
and slenderer than those found elsewhere along the Alaskan main- 
land, and are built on a somewhat different model. This style of kaiak 
is found from Kotzebue sound northward to Point Barrow, but at the 
latter place they are made about one-fourth longer than in Kotzebue 
sound, and as their width is but little greater, they are proportion- 
ately slenderer. 




KAIAKS ABOUT ONE-FuRTI£TH 



'"S"^"'') KAIAKS 221 

A kiiiak from C;ipe KriiSLMislfiri (limue I!, i.lutc i.xxix) is 17 feot 
;5 inches in len.ytli, S inciics in depth l,a.'k of the manhole, and lias IS 
inches beam. Another, Irom Cape Kspeidieij;- (lij;nre."i, plate lwixi 
is 14 feet 4 inches lonj;-, i;5 inches deep, and has L'Unehes beam. These 
are examples of the Kotzebiio sound kaiaks. They are Ion" slender 
and sharp i)ointe(l at both ends; the manhole is placed somewhat hack- 
ward of the center, and the deck is Hat from the rear of the manhole to 
the stern. Just in front of the manhole the deck is sprnni; iii)ward by 
means of the ni)cnrved cross-pieces so as to form a risin'z- slope, which 
extends back to the rim of the manhole. 

This carving surface is brouf-htto a- central rid.i;e by means of a strip 
of wood bound aloiig the tops of the uiu'iirvinj;- cross-pieces. 'I'hc 
manhole is fitted into i)osition alonj;- the rear of this raised portion, 
with its bordeis .sh)pins' down and backward to the lower Ihil deck 
behind. The.se kaiaks lie very low in the water, and the nps])rnn;;- 
curve of the deck Just in front of tlie manhole serves to throw olf the 
water and prevent the lull force of the waves from strikinj;- ajiainsi the 
occupant. 

Kaiaks with two or three manholes arc; now used to a limiled extent 
along- the Alaskan coast. These have been introduced by the Russian 
traders from the Aleutian islands, but they are rarely used by the 
natives. They are ordinarily maile for the convenience of white men. 
who can thus utili/,e native labor to ])ropel tliein. 

In journeying on rivers or along the coast, the I'.skimo freipiently 
fasten two kaiaks side by side by lashing cross-sticks against the front 
and rear of the manholes with rawhide cord. A kind of platform of 
sticks is also nuide across the deck, on which small loads of goods are 
placed. These are fixed usually behind the manhole, although at 
times a load is carried both before and behind the occupant. 

On one occasion, near St Michael, I saw two kaiaks lashed together 
in this way, with a man in each, and Just behind them was i)laced a 
small pile of household goods, (consisting nniinly of bedding, upon which 
sat a woman, hi front a small mast, held in jxisition by guys, had been 
raised on a crosspiece lashed on the decks neai- the front crosscords, 
and a snmll sail, made from iiarchmentliki^ gut skin, was raised. This 
odd-looking vessel was making very good time on a small stream before 
the wind. In rough weather at sea hunters frecpiently lash tlieir kaiaks 
together in pairs in order to rest or to prevent accident. 

When the Conrin reached King island, in liering strait, one stormy 
day in the summer of l.SSl. the islandeis lashed their kaiaks in i)airs, 
and came otf with piles of furs and other articles of trade lii'aped \\]> 
on the decks behind the manholes. 

The rim of the manhole is made slightly (hiring or uilh ihe cover 
constricted Just beneath it next to the deck. Around this constriclion 
a cord is passed, which fastens down the borders of the waterproof 
frock worn by the occui)ant in rough or wet weather. Witli this gar- 
ment lashed down it is impossible for any water to reach the interior. 



222 i'HE ESKIMO AHOCT BERING STRAIT [eih.anx. 18 

When ocfiipied by skilful padtlleineu these boats are very dirticult to 
upset and will ride through extremely rough weather in safety. I was 
told that some of the most skilful among the eoast people eould upset 
their kaiaks aud right them again by the rise of the paddle, but the 
old men said this feat was uow becoming rare as the young hunters 
were degenerating and were not as good kaiak men as formerly. 

liOAT HOOKS 

Tioat hooks are used by the men on umiaks and kaiaks all along the 
coast and on the islands, the principal difference in them being in the 
larger size of those used on the umiaks. These boat hooks are of great 
service, particularly to men on kaiaks when landing on rocky shores or 
upon the ice, and those having pointed spurs at the butt are used for 
fending off ice when paddling al)()ut at sea during spring and autumn. 

Figure 1, plate lxxx, illustrates a stout boat hook, feet in length, 
for use in a umiak, which was obtained on Norton sound. The end 
of the shaft has a strong bone point lashed against a shoulder with 
rawhide cords; a foot inward from the lower end a strong spur of 
deerhorn is lashed against the side, from which it projects at a right 
angle. This is the style of boat hook commonly used on umiaks, the 
shafts varying from (i to 8 feet in length. 

A boat hook intended for use on a kaiak, obtained at Golofniu bay, 
is shown in figure o, plate lxxx. It is 4 feet 9 inches in length; the 
shaft is rounded and tapering, with a long, spur-like hook of walrus 
ivory set in a notch near its end and held in place by lashing with 
strips of whalebone passed through holes in the spur and shaft. This 
hook is flattened triangular in cross section; the inner edge is thin, 
but it broadens toward the back; it projects backward toward the end 
of the shaft and ends in a tapering point. 

Boat hooks of this kind are common from the mouth of the Kusko- 
kwim to Kot/.ebue sound, and vary but little in shape and in the Ibrm of 
the spur or hook. The backs of these ivory hooks are covered with 
conventional i)atterns of diagonally etched lines, crossed by long, hori- 
zontal grooves. This pattern is common on these implements over a 
wide extent of territory. A specimen in the National Museum (num- 
bered 73797) was brought from Taku harbor, in southeastern Alaska. 
It is made of walrus ivory and is marked with the i)attern described. 

Figure 15, plate Lxxviii, shows an ivory hook from Sledge island, 
which has two points at one end and the other fashioned into the form 
of a seal-head. Another small ivory hook of this kind (figure '26, plate 
LXXViTi) has three walrus-heads along the bark. A long ivory hook 
from Uualaklit (figure 23, plate lxxviii) has etched upon it a conven- 
tional pattern of straight lines and the raven totem sign. 

A deerhorn hook from Askinuk (figure 25. plate lxxviii) has the back 
carved to represent the head of a walrus, the outlines of the flippers 



"^"•"O"! BOAT HOOKS AM) I'AUDI.ES •_>•);; 

being etched on the sides of tlie hook. A |,„olc (Vom I5i;j hdje (liguic 
2li, idate Lxxvni) has two raised lieads extciidiiifr alon- caeli side near 
the middle. Another, from the same ])hicc ((i.uureL'l, |.l;rie iaw in ). lias 
the back carved into the Ibrm of the licad and lioiiy of a wolf, with 
etched lines below on the sides to rei)resent the le.us. A boat hook 
from Sledge island (ligure a, jihite i.xxx) has a strong wood.'u shall, :! 
feet inches long, grooved along both sides. It has a donble jioint 
hook of deerhorn bound to one side by a rawhide lashing, which i)asses 
through two holes in the shaft and through corresponding holes in 
the hook. The other end ol' the shaft is heavily grooved crosswise 
to aftbrd a firmer grasp. 

These double-point hooks are t'rei|uently notched at the ends, so 
that the points become double, as shown in the si)ecimen from St 
Michael, illustrated in liguie 18, plati^ Lxxviii. I'.oat hooks of this 
style are cominoidy used lor drawing out articles from the interior of 
kaiaks which can not be reached w'ith the hand. 

An ivory hook (ligure 17, jdate LxxviH) obtained on Norton xinud 
by Mr L. M. Turner, has a forked point at one end and the head of a 
seal carved on the other. 

A boat hook from tlie lower Yukon (tigiire 1', ])late lAXX) has a round 
handle, three feet in length, with a deerhorn hook lashed with spruce 
roots to one side of the end; the lashing ])asses through two holes 
ill the handle, then through a corresi)oiiding hole near the outer end of 
the hook, and around a notch at the base. The holes iti tlieliandle. 
through which the loops pass, are plugged with wooden pins to bind 
the lashings. A detached hook for a similar implement from the lower 
Yukon, showu in ligure 10, plate Lxxviii, has its surface covered with 
a heavily etched pattern. 

A short boat hook from the lower Kuskokwim (ligure 4, jdate i.xxx) 
has a backward -pointed spur of deerhorn near one end, which is held 
in place by rawhide lashings through holes in the hook ami in the shaft. 
A pointed spur of deerhorn at the butt is set in a groove in the same 
side as the hook at the other end, and is fastened by strong rawhide 
cords passed through holes in the spur and thence around the notched 
shaft. The ends of the lashings at each end of the hook are inserted in 
slits made in the shaft with a fiat point ('hisel ot bone or ivory. 



In Kotzebne sound the blades of the i)addles used on umiaks are 
made rounded and very short. North of this district, at Point Hope, 
the paddle blades are lanceolate in shape, broadest near the handle, 
and taper downward to a long, shari) point. 

The paddles used on kaiaks are made in two forms, one liaving a 
blade at each end and the other being provided with a single blade. 
The forms of the blades vary according to locality. The single I. lade 
paddles have the haudles terminating in a crossbar, which is sometiines 



224 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERINU !>TRAIT [eth.ann.W 

cut fioiii the same piece of wood, aud at other times is formed from a 
separate piece pien^ed with a hole, by which it is titted ou the eud of 
tlie handle. 

Mfjiire l".t, plate Lxxviii, shows one of these crosspieces for a paddle 
handle from the lower Yukon. It is made of boue, is oval in outline, 
and is provided with a projectiuf;- lip ou the lower side, through which 
is a lound hole for putting on the end of the handle. 

Figure 70 « represeuts an umiak paddle used in Kotzebue sound, and 
figure 70 & shows a form of umiak paddle seen at I'oiut Hope. 

The kaiak paddles used by the people of Nuuivak island and the 
adjacent mainland are neatly made and frequently ornamented, in red 
and black paint, with figures forming the private marks or totem 
signs of the owner. 

The PJering strait islanders decorate their kaiak paddles in patterns 
of red and black, which probably form totem and ownership marks. 

Figure 71 b represents a double-blade paddle from King island. It 
is about 8 feet long and the handle is suboval in cross section. The 
blades are long, narrow, and tiat on the surface which is to be used 



Fl(i. TU-Foniis ot iniiials pacUlIc'S, 

against the water, and are strengthened along the backs by a ridge 
down the middle. Oue of the blades is painted black and the other 
red, and the handle is surrounded by red and black bands. Another 
double-blade paddle, obtained at Point Barrow by Lieutenant Ray 
(figure 71 ((), is 7 feet in length, with the blades nearly flat on both sides 
aud much broader and more rounded than those of the preceding speci- 
men. The backs of the blades have a very slight ridge running down 
the center. A single-blade paddle from King island (figure ;>, plate 
Lxxx) has a large, broad blade, with a central ridge on the outside. 
The lower two-thirds of the blade is painted black, and a triangular 
spot of black is marked on each side: the edge of the blade, where it 
joins the handle at the upper end, is also black, with a ring extending 
around the handle. All of these black markings are bordered by a 
narrow line of red and constitute the jirivate marks of the owner. 

Another single-blade kaiak paddle, from Kushuuuk (figure 7, plate 
LXXX), has a crosspiece fitted on the top of the handle by means of a 
square hole. The blade is long and slender and is tipped with black for 
a short distance; this is succeeded by several bands, varying in width, 
alternately of red, black, and uncolored wood. The handle near the 



^E'-^'^l KAIAK AN1> l-MIAK IVMHiLKv: 

bliuleissiiiToniidod hya luMud. hhudi l>aii(l. with 
aiiotlier below ii. 

Fi,mu-e S, plate LXW, re|ii-esenl.s one .if a i)air 
paddles lioiii Kiisliiuiiik. it lias a Imio, muiow 
blade, and the crossbar at: the end at' tiie handle 
is eut from the same i)iece. The paddle is marked 
with black lines and bars representin};- a female 
])hallie emblem, one half of the (ionie beini;- on 
each of the two jiaddles forminji- the set. On 
eaeh side of the crossbar are incised lines repre- 
.seTiting: the mouth, nostiils, and eyes of a semi- 
human face. On one side the month is cnrved 
downward, and on the other it is njicurved. The 
two i)addles are exact duplicates as to their 
markinjis. 

A sinKl<^-bhld(^ paddle from itiiflake (tlj;'uref!, 
plate LXXX) is somewhat similar in form to the 
precedinji'. On the ndddle of the blade on each 
side is painted a red disk, surrounded by a black 
circle, from \vhi(^h a black band extends uji the 
median ridge of the blade to its ui)per edse, 
where a black ring surrounds the handle; from 
this jjoint to the tij) the edge of the blade is 
painted black. 

In the vicinity of the lower Kuskokwim the 
paddle blades are somewhat similar in shape, 
but vary in the character of the figures painted 
on them, which iinlicatt^ the totems oi- the owner- 
ship marks of their makers. 

Figure Id, plate Lxxx, illustrates a thin, sword- 
shape inii)lement of wood, which was obtained at 
Cape Denbeigh. It is Hat on one surface, down 
the middle of which extends a small groove, while 
the other surface is so ridged that the cross 
section forms a flattened triangle. It is employed 
by seal and walrus hunters tor a double pur- 
pose — as a i)addle lor iiropelling the kaiak 
slowly and ('autiously toward sleeping seals, and 
for striking the water with the Hat side to 
frighten a wounded animal and cause it to dive 
again before it can take breath, and thus become 
exhausted more quickly. I'>oin the Chukchi of 
the Asiatic coast, north west of r.ering strait, I ob- 
tained a similar implement made from a long, tiat 
piece of whalebone lifted to a wooden handle. 

Strips of bone cut from the Jaw or rib of a 
IS ETH 15 



1 red b 
of siny 



225 

md above and 
le blade kaiik 



Flij 7I-K.iiak f,i..l.lU» liom 
I'Miiil I'.iiriovv iiri.l Kiug 
ial^.ncl I,',). 

whale are .sometimes 



226 THE KSKIMO AB01;T BKUINC strait (eth.ann. is 

laslu'd ti) tlic lailsof niiii;iks;(t the i)oiiit where the oars pass over tliem 
to ])reserve Mie cover from wear bj' friction. 

Oue of these strii)s, obtained at I'ort Clarence by Dr Dall, is shown 
in lianre .i"), i)hite i.xsviii. It is llatteued below, with oue edge turned 
(h)wn, forming- a slight lip; the upiier portion is rounded, and has a 
inoicetiiig- shoulder to retain the lashing which binds it to the rail of 
(he boat. 

SPEAR AND PADDLE (ITARDS 

In I'.ering strait, where considerable whale fishing is done, small 
ivory or bone forks are lashed to the bows of umiaks, just inside and 
between the front ends of the rails; in these the ends of the lances and 
sjiears rest, and through them the lines run out. The projecting sides 
of these forks are usually carved in the form of the heads and shoulders 
of white bears. They are made in two pieces and are united in the 
nnddle by an ivory or bone block mortised in and fastened by wooden 
or ivory pegs. In some instances the two halves are lashed together 
by rawhide cords passed through holes: on the outer edges are holes 
through which pass the lashings which attach them to the bow. 

Figure 3.'i, plate Lxxviii, shows an example of these lauce guards 
fiom the Diomede islands; another (tigure 37, plate Lxxviii) from Cajje 
Prince of Wales, has been illustrated among the mythological figures 
to show the "thunderbird" which is etched on its surface (see i>late 

CYIIfl). 

To prevent the spears and paddles from falling off the sloping deck 
of the kaiak, when not in use, there are used guards consisting of 
ui>standing, spur-like jiieces of bone, ivory, or deerhorn, which rest on 
the gunwale on each side, and are fastened to the crossline of the kaiak, 
which i)asses through a hole in the base. This base of the guard is 
tiattened and sometimes heavily scored with grooves to give it a tirmer 
hold against the surface of the skin covering. The guards are made 
in a variety of forms, the sini])lest of which is a .subtriangular piece 
with the broad base downward. 

Figure t, plate i.xxviii, represents one of these guards, which was 
obtained at KoMigunugumut; it is rounded in outline and narrow 
above, w here it ends in the form of a tail of a white whale. Another, 
from ("halitmut (tigure .'?, plate lxxviii), is curved over at the end and 
pierced with a, narrow, i)earshape hole through the tip. 

Another simple form is a tlattened, shell-like piece of ivory, having 
the bottom curved or Hat for resting on the surface of the cover, with a 
thin, tlattened or oval upturiu-d i)oint, the outer side of which is gen- 
erally coN'ered witli etched patterns. Sometimes the inuer surface is 
also ornamented in the same manner. Figure S, plate LXXViii, from 
Anogogmut: liguic 10, i)late lxxviii, from Kushunuk, and figures 7 
and y, ]ilate LXXVIII, from Sfugunugumut, represent examples of this 
kind of giiaitl. 



SrKAH AVI) PADhl.i; (il-AKDs 

;iiai(ls ;ii(' iiiailc in ili 



227 

I'lii 111' vaiioiis 




uni.l f..r k:n:r, 



111 iiiiiny casos tlK'S(> spear oi 
animal ligiuvs. 

Fiourcs '-2 and 7:; lepiesent a i)air ..f bcaulirnllv mail.- iv,.iy •■innls 
from Kaiali<(amul. On,. „r tii.'in (li-iu-,. 7L', lias ii„. l„„a<i ..an,- sue 
fiU-c carved to rcproseut gnitcsiiiic scmilniinan fcatun's. and the upper 
end rcpi-osents the. face of a seal, while on tlic two sides are the li-nies 
of white whales. On the other (lionre 7:;). on l.otli sides, are carved 
seniihimian faces, and on ea(^h side is the (i-nre of a seal in relief, ami 
terminating- in the head of a seal. 
These are all beanlifully executed 
carvings. 

A guard from Cape N'aneonver 
(ligure 12, plate i-wviu) is in tlie 
form of a hand, with the |)alin 
pierced and a tuft of seal hair set 
ill the back and held in ])lace by a 
wooden jilug. Another, from ( 'ape 
Nome (tigure .">, plate Lxxviii), is 
carved in the shape of the head of a white bear. A rounded guard with 
truncated end (figure l.'S, jilate i.wviii) is from Sfugiiiiuguinul. A 
sjiecimeii from Agiukchngumut (figure ll,]ilate i,\xvin)is in the roriii 
of the head and shoulders of a liuinan being, with the hands re|)re 
seiited by a Hipper etched on each shoulder. Another example trom 
(Jape Nome (ligure (i, plate Lxxvin) is in the shajie of the head of a 
white bear, with fragments of blue beads representing the eyes and 
another bead inlaid on the toj) of the head. 

On Nunivak island a somewhat different form of guard is made. It 
is carved lu the shajie of a seal or other animal, with the body some six 

or seven inches in length, ami has 
a hole passing diagonally through 
the side, through which are passed 
the cross-cords. These lignres 
then lie diagonally along the coNcr 
neartln! rail with tin; heads iHiint- 
ing upward. 

Figure 14, plate lAXViii, lepre- 
sents one of these guards, which 
is ill the loriii of a land otter. 
Figure 2, jilate lxxviii, shows an ivory guard, obtained at K'olzeliue 
sound, of a pattern difCereiit from those generally used. The portion 
which rests on the cover of the kaiak is rounded above and tipers 
downward to a wedge-slmpe point: the npiight |iart forms an obtuse 
point, which curves forward from the liasc. A similar guard, made 
from deerhorii, was obtained on Sledg(^ island. 

For repairing broken ribs or for streiigtiieiiing weak places in the 
frames of umiaks and kaiaks, strijis of ivory or deerhorn are used as 




228 THE E.SKDK.) ABOUT BERINC4 STRAIT (eth.anx. 18 

splices; liolos ;ire pierced tlnon-li tlie euds, or a sboukler is left across 
tin- upper side to retain the lashings by wliicli they are fastened. Fig- 
ures .■■>2 and 30, plate lxxviii, show examples of splices for use ou 
umiaks, collected ou Sledge island. 

A small deerhoru splice, from St Michael, intended for use on a kaiak, 
is sliown in figure 31, plate lxxviii. It is pointed oval in outline, and 
has holes along the middle to receive the lashing. 

A longer splice, from Chalitmut (figure 3(1, plate Lxxvili), is slightly 
hollowed below and convex on the outer side; it has two holes along 
the central line, which is grooved on the convex surface; the latter is 
crossed byuumerous incised lines to prevent the lashings from slipping. 

When paddling about among the broken ice in spring and autumn 
there is danger of the skin covering of the kaiak being cut at the bow 
by rioating jjieces of ice; to lessen this risk protectors are made from 
deerhoru and bound ou the bow at the water line. 

Figure 27, plate Lxxviii, represents one of these protectors from 
rikmiktalik; it is 7^ inches long, and is excavated within so as to form 
a hollow shoulder. One end terminates in a hollow, spoon-shape 
point, which rests against the bow above the water line. The lower 
end has a bar of the material left across it, which rests against the 
bow below the water line, thus permitting the curve to enter the hollow 
but not to rest against the interior of the protector. Holes along the 
sides and three notches across the outer surface serve for the lashing 
by which it is attached to the bow of the boat. The sides are orna- 
mented with a conventional pattern of etched lines. 

xV similar bow protector from Cape Nome (figure 2S, plate lxxviii) 
is made of deerhoru ; it has holes along the sides for attaching it to the 
boat. This protector is not ornamented. 

The cross-cords for kaiaks are generally plain rawhide lines, but 
sometimes they are ornamented with beads carved from walrus ivory 
and strung ou them. The commonest form of these represents an 
inrtated sealskin lioat, generally alternated with round or elongated 
beads of ivory, and ornamented with etched jiatterns or having the 
surfaces of the beads pierced with round holes, in which are inserted 
small, black wooden pegs. 

Figure 1, plate lxxviii, represents one of these cords from King 
island. The ornaments strung along it are held in place by wooden 
wedges, inserted in the holes througli which the cord passes. Examples 
of similar cords were collected at points from Bristol bay to beyond 
Kotzebue souud. 

TRAOK AND TUADIX(i VOYAGES 

According to traditions of the TTualit, the people on the coast of 
Bering strait, in ancient times, made regular summer trading voyages 
back and forth across the strait. Old men told me of having seen small 
pieces of cloth wliich hail been brouglit by the peoi)le of East cape. 



""^'-^''^i ti;ai)i\(; vovagks .)2() 

SiluM'ia, ;ii)(l sold ascnriosilies to tlio Aiiu'iiiMii Kskinio. Iicfoio tlic Kiis- 
siaiis took possession of the coniitiy. Tliey also informeil iiic thai tlje 
use of tobacco was introduced aniong them, before they werr bi.mjrht 
into direct contact witii white men. by means of innie with tl?eir 
Asiatic ueij-bbors, who brought across I'.erins strail siiiaJI ImiihIU's 
called "hands," of Circassian leaf tobacco. 

In ancient times intertribal communication along the coast was irreg- 
ular and uncertain, owing to the hostile attitude of the people towanl 
one another. For this reason trading was then conlincd to those villages 
wbich happened to be mi friendly terms. Now the old barriers have 
been broken down, and active barter between the dilfereiit comnninitie.s 
has become a marked feature of their life. This is particularly the case 
among the people living between the Knskokwim and Kotzcbue sound. 
The numerous fur-trading stations which have been estal)lisheil among 
them, and the visits of trading vessels and whaling ships to the coast 
of Bering strait, have served to quicken and encourage among thcni 
the spirit of trade. In summer the i>eoi)le of Uering strait make visits 
to the head of Kotzebue sound and to the mouth of the Yukon, carry- 
ing the skins of tame reindeer purchased from the peojjle of the Asiatic 
coast, for which they receive in barter skins of various fiu'bearing 
animals that are used in turn for trading with vessels in Bering strait 
or with their Asiatic neighbors. For the latter i)uri)ose beaver and 
land-otter skins are the most highly iirized. as the Chukchi of Siberia 
will always offer two full-size deerskins for one of either of the skins 
named. They cut them into strips for trimnung the collars of their 
deerskin coats, and use them also for trading with the liussians. 

Parties of traders from East cape. Siberia, and the Diomede islands 
also make yearly voyages to Kotzebue sound, where the ICskimo of 
Kowak and Noatak rivers hold a sort of summer fair. After the sea 
freezes in winter, the Eskimo, who have thus obtained a stock of rein- 
deer skins, start out with dogs and sledges to travel along the coast 
and barter for furs. lu the winter of ISSO I met. on Norton sound, a 
sledge party of Eskimo, who were making a trading trip from Sledge 
island to Kotzebue sound. 

The Malemut along Kotzebue sound make trading trips southward 
to the Yukon, and even to their enemies, the Tinni", of Koyukuk river. 
The Malemnt are the most energetic and enterprising of all the i)c.>ple 
of this region. They are great traders, and are more courageous and 
domineering than most of the natives with whom they deal, and are 
111 conse(iuence nmcli disliked by the people with whom they come in 
contact. 

When, in ]87:}-'74, the rcimleer suddenly left the shores of Norton 
sound, the.se people pushed on ni family i)arties from point to point 
until, in 187 7-'7.s, they had reached Knskokwim river, Nunivak island, 
and Bristol bay. 

During trading voyages there are carried from one part of the roun 



2-JO THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |etii ann. w 

try to aiiotlier beads and other articles of use or ornament, as well as 
pieces ofjadeite, wUich material, acooiding- to some of tlie Eskimo, is 
foiiud in the mountains inhand from Kotzebue sound and also on Kaviak 
peninsula. Small articles, such as green and red paint and wooden 
disiu's. were sent out from the lower Yukon; and the people of other 
localities who have a surplus of seal oil, dried lish, and skins of various 
animals, take them to points where they can be exchanged for other 
desirable commodities. 

During one winter at St Michael the skin of a Siberian squirrel was 
brought to me by an Eskimo living on Norton sound, he having 
obtained it on P.ering strait. The skin must have come from the inte- 
rior of Siberia. 

In the mouth of August, 1870, we were visited at St Michael by an 
umiak from Cape Prince of Wales, and another from King island. In 
July, 1881, a number of umiaks arrived from the former place. These 
all brought deerskins and tanned hides of seal and walrus for trade. 
The umiaks in full sail, crowded with furclad people, dogs, and their 
various possessions, made a very picturesiiue sight. Among the men 
were some Chukchi from the northern coast of Siberia. These were 
recognized by our officers, who had spent a couple of weeks with them 
earlier in the season. The Chukchi generally start out on their trad- 
ing voyages in May, traveling along the shore with dog sleds, hauling 
on them their umiaks, which are folded, until they reach open water, 
when tiie sleds are left at some point and the umiaks set up; then, tak- 
ing the dogs and goods on board, they coast along the shore of Denng 
sound and over to the American side. Some of them even visit the 
Ihissian fair at Ghigiga, near Anadyr river, during the winter to dis- 
pose of the furs they have gathered on tlieir summer trading voyages. 

During one season an umiak came to St Michael from King island, 
but tlie people were poorly supplied with goods for trading, having 
only dried salmon and seal oil. As usual, they were very difficult to 
trade with on account of their slowness in closing a bargain. A man 
would bring in a bunch of dried rtsh, throw it on the floor, and then 
stand about as if he had no interest in anything going on, until asked 
what he wished; when the regular price was ottered he would almost 
invariably refuse, and then a long talk would ensue, which ended either 
by his accepting what was offered or by taking away the fish. This 
slowness is common with these i)eop]e. 

I was at a trading station on the head of Norton bay one winter 
when a Malemut (!hief wished to exchange some reindeer skins for 
various articles. It was in the evening, and after i)rolonged liaggling, 
and changing one article for another, which lasted until 3 oclock next 
morning, half a dozen skins were tiually bought from him. We retired 
and were hardly in bed before the man came back to exchange for other 
things some of the goods which he had taken. Finally the trader put 
him off until next day, when be again occupied a couple of hours before 



■>'^'-«'^) TKAIiIC AND TK'Al/lNd V()VA<,KS 231 

be was siitislied. This may be an exticme .ase, but il illustrates tli.'ir 
jjeiieial ii\etiio(ls of tratlliij;. 

Ill July, ISSl, wo loiiiid at llotliain inlet a n.w of over ir.O eoni.-al 
lodges set up lor over a mile alon.ir tlie beaeli, wliicii were nceui.ie.l 
by Maleniut from Sehiwik lake and natives from Kowak and Noatak 
rivers. In 1880 (Japtain n()oi)er found about twelve hundred of these 
I)eople eucamiKMl at Cape lUossom, but in ISSI the main eami. had 
been located at Hot ham inlet. When we arrived there we saw a small 
trading schooner lying off the village, siirroiiiided by umiaks three or 

tour deep and the deck crowded by a dense mass of the llski 

Tobacco, drilling, knives, ammunition, and other small artic'les were 
used to buy from them the skins of reindeer, wolves, black bear, arctic 
hare, red, white, and cross foxes, etc. As we proceeded uj) the coast a, 
number of iiiuiiiks were seen on their way to the camp at llotiiam inlet, 
and at many ])oints we saw umiaks on trading trips up the coast, and 
.some of the people told us that they had bought rilles and cartridges 
from the men of Cape Prince of Wales. 

At many places from I'oint Iloi)e to I'oint Barrow we were ottered 
whalebone, ivory, the skins of reindeer, mountain slieep. Parry's mar- 
mot, whistlers, and many white and red fox skins. Whisky and car- 
tridges seemed to be about the only articles desired by these people in 
exchange. This was unfortunate, considering the fact that the object 
of our visit to the coast was to prevent the sale of these very articles 
to the natives. 

Near Cape Lisburne we met nine umiaks containing about one 
hundred people from Point Hope, who were on their way to the vicinity 
of Point liarrow to trade. Their dogs were running along the shore, 
keeping abi'east of the boats liut stopping occasionally to howl dolefully. 
We obtained two i)hotographs of their camj) near our anchorage. 

While we were anchored in Kot/.ebue sound in September, several 
umiaks passed on their way back to Cape Prince of Wales from a 
trading voyage ui) the coast. One came alongside the Coruin that 
had a huge sail made by sewing numberless jiieces of deerskin into a 
strange patchwork. 

To show the difficulty attending the navigation of thes(^ frail boats in 
Bering strait I will state that, althcmgli we made six passages through 
the strait during the summer of ISSl, only once was it clear enough from 
fog to permit the high land of both shores to be seen. .Vmong the 
islanders of Bering strait the main articles they had tor barter were 
coils of rawhide line, tanned sealskins, and handsomely made, water- 
proof sealskin boots. At Kast cape and along the Siberian coast, 
including St Lawrence island, the articles of trade among the llskimo 
were walrus ivory, whalebone, and the skins of white foxes and rein- 
deer. The St Lawrence islanders make fre(|uent trading voyages to 
the Siberian coast, where they obtain reindeer skins for clothing. 
Formerly these people went along the American coast as far as Cape 



232 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (eth. ann. 18 

'Snun\ but tbis lias not occurred recently. On a clear day the head- 
land on the Siberian shore is visible I'rom St Lawrence island, some 
40 ov ."iO miles away. 

Dnrini;- the summer of 1879 the Tinnc from Auvik, ou the lower 
Yukon, descended the river iu several umiaks aud visited St Michael 
to cNchange their wooden tubs and dishes for seal oil and other 
products of the coast district. 

UNITS OF VAL,rE AND ]>EEASUREMEXT— Nl MERATION 

UNITS OF VALUE 

The skins of mammals, being the most valuable portable property 
among the Alaskan Eskimo, give the most convenient standard of 
value. In very early days, before the advent of the llussians about 
the Yukon district, the skin of the full-grown land otter was consid- 
ered the unit of value. E(|ualiiig it was the skin of the large hair seal. 

Of late years the skin of the beaver has replaced the otter skin as 
the unit of trade value. All other skins, furs, and articles of trade 
generally are sold as "a skin"' and multiples or fractions of "a skin," 
as it is termed. In addition to this, certain small, untanned skins, 
used for making fur coats or blouses, are tied in lots sufiBcient to make 
a coat, and are sold in this way. It requires four skins of reindeer 
fawns, or forty skins of Parry's marmot or of the muskrat, for a coat, 
and these sets are known by terms designating these bunches. Thus: 

Four fawn skins = no-i'(kh'-l-}t. 

Forty Parry's marmot skins = cJiif/ihli'-l-iU. 
Forty muskrat skins = i-Iifi'-)-/riih-h'-\-i'd. 

The pelt of a wolf or a wolverine is worth several "skins" in trade, 
while a number of pelts of muskrats or Parry's marmot are required 
to make the value of "a skin." 

. The foregoing terms are of the Unalit, but similar ones are in use 
among all the Eskimo of this region. 

UNITS OK MEASUREMENT 

All units of linear nieasuicment among these ])eo])le are based on 
body measurements — mainly of the hand and the arm, which ibrm the 
readiest standards. Such units of measurement are used also by them 
for gauging the size and length of all of their tools, implements, and, 
in fact, of nearly everything made by them. 

As the length of a man's hands and arms are usually in proportion 
to the length of his body, it is evident that bows, arrows, spears, boat 
frames, etc, when made by him according to a tixed number of spans or 
cubits, will l)e in direct proportion to himself, and thus esitecially suit- 
able to his use, whether he be large or small. 



The followinj; terms ;no from the I'lKilit. and cover tlie iii;its ..f 
measurement commouly in use, altboutjli otliers jirobalily exist: 

Small, mik -i-lii'i -ii-i'ik. 

.Vi-.7'i«'i is tho mi'asuremeiit of ihe length of ili.. mosU in the larsost s,al nctn 
nse.l for the laiRe liair seal or muk-l,il:. It is Inuixl l.y iiicasuiiiii; a lin" lioin the lip 
of the exteiidod tUumti of the lifjlil tiaml across the valm of the hand, the lingers 
Ijcinj; closed. 

yii-ki-shiiH' ui-fi'iii' is the mesh of the small salmon (nd-ka) net. This is the dis- 
tanee from Ih.' wrinkle or line .lividing the lirst and second Joints of the ri^'ht fore- 
iin^er to the line midway between tho base of the thiiinh and the forclin-er. 

I'li-lnikh-chiiii )ii-r/',» is the size of the mesh used for nets for the large sea whilctish 
{iii-biik ). It is fonnd Ijy takins the width of the extended lirst throe fin^-ers on th.- 
palmar surface at the first joint. 

Tihj-i-juk'-whukh-diun' nl-g'iii' is the size of the mesh for the large salmon ((h.'/-I- 
slnlt-whiik), and is measured from the base of the extended thumb along tlie inner 
surface of the hand to tho tip of the extended tirst linger. 

i-ka'-thlii-iikh'-piikli-cliiiii ni-(/in' is the mesh for the herring seine (herring - i-tn- 
thlii-iikh -pilk). The iviath of the inner surface of the two extended lirst lingers at 
the lirst joint. 

Sli>kli-cliuii iii-fi'in is themesli used in nets for the white whale («'(o'-i(l-). Thelips 
of the extended thumbs are jilaced togithei- and the measnrenient taken mi the 
])aliiiar surface across both extended bands along the line of the thumbs. 

Ti(ii-lii-shiiii' ni-yliiik . The length of the rawhide line used for a reindeer snare is 
(d)taiued by i)assing the cord twice around the sole of the left foot and drawing the 
double loop up to the groin while sitting on the floor with feet extended. 

h'ai-okli'-hrtkli-chnii ni-g"ui is the mesh used in nets for the Arctic hare (kai-iikh - 
hVik). It is determined by the width of the ]ialm at the base of the lingers. 

J-kuj'-ii filkh-chtin' n'l-ghiik . Tin- length of the cord used for snaring jitarmigaii 
(O-kiij'-i-gik). The distance from the tip of the outstretched forefinger along the 
palm and the inner side of the forearm to the point of the elbow. 

I'ii-lok -tukh-chun' kit -bn-shii, the mesh used in nets for heaver (pii-lok -ti'ik). The 
distance around the head on a lim^ with the middle of the forehead. 

I'-nuij'-u-mun is the distance from the tip of the extended left thumb, with lingers 
closed, along the inside of the extended arm to the armpit. 

K'iikh-ko(j'-u-nuk, the distance measured from the end of the left thumb across the 
lialm of the closed hand, thence along the ii]iper side of the outstretched arm and 
across the chest to the inner end of the right cidlar hone. 

Tiij -i-iuiin', same as the last, but extended to the point of the right shoulder. 

1-kit -tjui-\-nuij'-u-mi\k. same as the last, but extended to (he )ioiiit of the right 
elbow, the right arm being extended and Hexed at the ilhow. 

I-(iii -yi-gii;/ -i-iiiik. This is the measurement used for making the stem, or how- 
jiiece, of a kaiak. It is found by measuring from the tip of the extended forefinger, 
through the palm of the h.-in<l and along the inner side of the arm. tn the jioint of 
the elbow, with the added width of the lelt forelinger, which is jilaced crosswi.se on 
the angle of the elbow. 

.Ii -hug-u-nuk is a measurement used for making boot soles, thi' height of kaiak 
frames, etc. It is a sjiaii, or the distance hctw.eii tile ontstr.tched tip> of ihe 
thumb and the second linger of the right hand. 

Kin-tV is the height of a man's knees from the ground; used in making dogsleds. 

Yil(j-u-nik. The distance from the tip of the extended left thumb, along the arm. 
across the chest, and to the tip of tho extended right thumb. This is the most com- 

' XigW is the name given to the yauge u».-.l in nicasmins meshe.s of n.-l.s uf any kin.l. 



234 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [etii axn is 

inon unit of measure used amons tlipse people. It is the regular measurement used 
for all ol)jrots having considerable length, such as rawhide lines, nets, cloth, etc". It 
is adopted by the fur traders, and is called a 'fathom.' By it cloth and other trading 
goods of that character are sold, the end of the article to be measured being taken 
in the left hand, with the extreme end opposite the tip of the left thumb, then the 
edge of the cloth is slid through the right hand and raised until it is drawn across 
the chest, under the chin, by the outstretched right hand; then the left hand drops 
its end and takes a new hold at the point of the right thumb, and so the operation 
is repeated until the desired length is obtained. 

CnRONOMETRY 

The Eskimo divide their time by moons, each moou being designated 
by the title of the most characteristic local phenomenon which accom- 
panies it. The following lists of months from varions localities agree 
in this. By the "moons" all time is reckoned during the year, and dates 
are set in advance for certain festivals and rites. In addition to the 
moons, the year is frequently divided intofonr seasons according to the 
regular occupations that occur in each — but this is indefinite and irreg- 
ular as compared with the other method. 

In counting years they are referred to as winters — the winter being 
the most imjiressive part of each year in this high latitude. 

The lollowing are Unalit terms: 

A year, litlil-hiin-i. 
A moon, i-(ilia'-h(k. 
Spring, ii'-ju-iii'iHi'-kiH\ 
Summer, ki-iik'. 
Autumn, nk-xhii'- lik. 
Winter, iik-xhiik'. 
Long ago, I'l-ka' . 
\vYy long ago, u-ka'-mx. 

Thirteen moons are counted to a year, but I failed, unfortunately, to 
obtain the complete series. In the following lists the moons are arranged 
as they correspond with our months; as a matter of course, this corres- 
pondence is not perfect, but is very close. 

.January, U'i'-idk. "To turn about," from an ancient game played with a top. 

February, yai-'ikli'-rliik. Time lirst seals {ntii'-ii'ik') a^^ born. 

March, Ti-g\iji-1nkh'-chik. The time of creeping on game. From the cnstoni of 
hunting seals on the ice by stalking. 

April, Kii)-iiiikli'-cliik. The time of cutting oft'. From the appearance of sharp 
lines where the white of the ptarmigans' liodies is contrasted with the brown of the 
new summer neck feathers which begin to appear at this time. 

May, KaV-fikh-lihj'-o-wik. Time for going in kaiaks. The ice ojiens at this time 
so that the hunters go out to sea in kaiaks. 

June, No-i'ikh' -uhi'uj' -A-xoik. Time of fawn hunting. 

.July, Kon-W -nX-ife' -nut in-ij'-ii-n-itt. The time of geese getting new wing feathers 
(molting). 

August, Enj'-u-gt(t i!i-ij'-i'i-ri-iit. Tinn- for brooding geese to molt. 

September, Am-i-<ihai'-ijliii-irik. The timi' for velvet shedding (from horns of rein- 
deer). 

( l(;tober, Kn'-hvi-Jiikh-piiij -li-wU.. Time for setting seal nets. 

November, (hc'-wliii-tug'-ii-ioik. Time for bringing iii winter stores. 

December, (:iuiu'-i-u//'-u-wik. Time of the drum— (lie month when the winter fes- 
tivals begin. 



'■'■•"""'■I NAMKS OF MONTHS oK MOuNS O35 

Very often several (liireieiit names may 1k> used to desi.-nni. n,,, 
sMine moon if it should chance to he at a season when dillcrent ocni- 
pationsor notable ociuinenees in nature are observed, and I have ns.-d 
the most eoninion terms. 

On the lower Ynk near Mission, the fodouinj; terms are used for 

the moons: 

.yaniKO-.v. r^,.,nll.. Tl,,- season tor to,,-s|,i„„i„. ,„„1 l„r rnmuiit; anmn.l tl,o 
kiishiiM. 

.himiai-y (hist part, uiid Ihsl part of IVIiniar.v ), A-k,-hth .W-« -,/„-„•,/,. Tiiim of 

ortal eating (from <i-kUiU-h-xlakh-t„l:. •' li(< lioils ollal "). Tliis name ,0 s fioni tlio 

scarcity of food likely to occur at tliis time and tlio necessity (hat arises clurinj; sn,li 
]icrio(ls to eat scraps of every acscriptidii. Anotlici- nainc used for tliis 1110011 is 
l-ija-luh -li'ikh, tho cold moon. 

1'et.niary-Marcli, Knii-iiakli-duik. TIk! time of opeiiiuf; the npii.-r passa^'eways 
into tlie houses. This term was said to come from the time long aso Hheii tUev 
ilaim it was imich warmer than now ami when the sun liegau to melt the snow a 
month earlier than at present. 

March-.\pril, Tiu'-u-mi-ilkh -!hii-ihi -li-iiik. l;inls come. 

April-May. Tin'-u-mi-ag'-iUwik. (ieese come (In't-ii-mi-tik, goose). 

May-June, Man-il' ihi-ii'-tit. Time of oggs (mini ik). 

.Inne-.Inly, Xdk'-siig'-o-wik. Time of salmon (iiiik -.iiik). 

Jiily-Angnst, I'-ko'-go-li-sog'-u-wik. Time for red salmon (ii-Aw/'-o./itK .Mso, 7'iH'. 
liiiiiat ii'i-ii -lit, Waterfowl iiiolt. 

Angust-Septembc-r, Tiri-ii-mi-nt I'ln-ii -li-iil. Time lor young geese to lly. 

September-Octolier, .im-i-gai -gn-irik. Time for shedding velvet ' ii-mi -rik' (rem: 
reindeer horns. 

October-November, Cliiij) -wliik. Mnsh ice forms 

November-December, hu'-gi liigh -ii-irik. Time of innskrats {ka-gi -tak). 

December-.Jauuary, Chai-t'tgh'-ii-wik. Time of the feast ti-lmi iil.i. 

Auiong the Kskimo Just south of the N'liUon delta the folloxvin^j 
moons ate reeogui/.ed : 

.Jamiaiy, U'i -ink. l^'roiii the game with a lop; also the time of a certain teslival ill 
which the dancers \year .straw lillets stuck full of feathers. 

February, A-g<iU-liikh'-h'ik. The time of iiinch moon i long nights). 

JIarcli, T'n-ogli-u-wik. Time of taking hares in nets. 

Ajiril, Kiqi-iiiikh -chiik. Time of opening summer doors. 

ilay, Tin-mi-<'igh -lUiiik. Arrival of geese. 

June, Chi-siigli -ii-uik. Time of Whitelish. 

.Inly, Tiig-i-gi'ik -]>iik ka-gii'-li. The time of braining salmon. (The tish are >triick 
on the head when lifted from the water.) 

August, Tii'i-ii-mi-iit ii'i-ii -li. Geese molt. 

Sejitember, Kit -gi-giit ii'i-n -li. .Swans molt. 

October. Tn'i-ii -tit. The tlying away (migration of liirdsK 

November, .Im'-i-gbii-ghihi. Time of velvet shedding (from reindeer liorns.. 

The name for December was not obtained. 

MMlCi; A I'loX 
The foliowiiis notes aud numerals tire from the I'lialit Kskimo. but 
are typical of the sy. stem in use among all the Kskimo with wlioiti I 
caiiie in (contact, except those of the .\letitiaii islands: 

Kit-slclii , count. 
I(il->.hlii -mi/., coniiting. 
A'i( ■»('/"•■«/.. he .oiiuts. 



236 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth anx. 18 

Tlie intertribal coiuniunicatioii between tlie mainland Alaskan Eskimo 
and t lie constant trade carried on amouji' them Lave developed consider- 
able quickness iu tlie use of numbers up to two or tliree hundred; this 
is (juite general witli both old and young. Going beyond the numbers 
ordinarily used in trade, however, the most intelligent among them 
become quickly confused. 

In order for them to count correctly it is necessary to have the objects 
lying before them, and these are placed in groups of twenties as they 
are counted. If required to count abstractly tliey soon become con- 
fused after reaching oue or two score; in this, however, there is great 
individual variation. About the Bering strait region most boys of 10 
or 12 years of age count objects very readily up to one hundred and 
over, and some men can reach four hundred, but it is only among the 
most intelligent natives of this section that four liundred can be 
counted, and it is rare that attempt is made to exceed that number. 

The Eskimo system of counting is based on a series of fives, rising 
iu this way to twenties. The lingers and toes furnish the counters for 
computing numbers, as is explained below. Among the Unalit Eskimo, 
as elsewhere among these peo]>le, there is great variability iu indi- 
vidual power. The most intelligent men and boys can count very 
readily ui) to two hundred or more, while others seem incapable of 
counting to twenty without blundering and repeated mistakes, like a 
stupid, slow-witted child. At every mistake made by such persons 
they are compelled to return and commence at one again, being 
unable to hold the numbers clearly enough in mind to take them up at 
intermediate points. Not even the most intelligent among them seem 
cai)able of counting readily beyond the number of his lingers and toes 
without the aid of objects directly before him. For this purpose I 
usually provided gun caps or matches, which served very conveniently 
as markers. 

Iu counting such small objects they commonly placed them in grouiis 
of five, and as four of these were completed they were swept into a 
single large group of twenty; in this way successive twenties were 
completed and kept sejiarately. 

When making twenty the ])erson would sometimes count the fives, 
commencing each time at one, but the most intelligent usually counted 
on to twenty, using the numerals of the regular series as given iu the 
list. When an Eskimo was asked to count up to twenty without using 
fingers or toes, his eyes would seek, iuvoluntarily, for something with 
which to tally, and even when asked to count five his eyes would turn 
at once to one of his hands, though he might make no visible use of his 
fingers. 

In using the fingers and toes for counting, the closed hands are held in 
front of the waist, palms down, and thumbs near together. Commeuc 
iug with tlie little finger of the right hand, as one, they pass to the left, 
opening or extending each finger in succession as its number is called 



SVSTKM or MMKIiATlDX 



•J;i7 



until the ri-ht tlm.ni.. .,r nuinlicr live, is icmcIumI. I>assiii..- thru.-,, to 
the little lin.ueri.r tl„. k-tt IkiikI lor six. Hie tinueis .,f H.is l.aii.l ue 
oi)ened sneeessively until tl.r l.-lt tlmmb and ten are reaeh.'d. As i,.|i is 
said the two liaiuls, tlunnhs near together an.l lin-ers all untstreirhed 
l):ilms down, are extended a little troni the body. Then the ri-hl loot is 
advaneed a little and the rijiiit lure!in-er points at Ih.- little toe of that 
foot as the counter says iit kkakh'-tok. This word ordinarily means -it 
S-oes down," and is used here both to indieate the des.'entin (-('.untint,' 
from han<is to feet as well as having, at times, an aecpiired nuaning in 
this connection of eleven. The toes are counted from rigiit to left until 
the right .great toe is reached, when both hands with open lingers, 
l)alins down, are extended toward the right foot, which is advan(vd a 
little more as the counter announces fifteen. The counter then lets the 
left hand fall by the side and points at the left great toe, saying, </i'ikli'-tok 
meaning "it goes over," and sometimes conveying in this connection 
the ac(iuired meaning of sixteen, as well as the going "over" of the 
count from one side of the body to the other. The other toes of the left 
foot are then enumerated from right to lelt, and as the small toe is 
reached, if the person be sitting, he extends both feet in front of him, 
doing the same with his hands, jjalms down, and says twenty; if he be 
standing, then the open hands are exteiuled downward with a slight 
motion and the number is spoken. 

The nse of lit-khakh'-tok and (/iikh'-tok for numerals, as given above, 
is not uncommou among the intelligent people who are able to count 
readily up to twenty in a single series of numerals, .\mong the igno- 
rant and slow-witted twenty is reached by making up four series of nnin- 
l)ers running from one to live. In eases of this kind these two words 
are used between ten and eleven and lifti'en and sixteen, simply to 
convey their regular meaning. They are most commonly used in count- 
ing the lingers and toes, when their application is (|uite natural: but 
often they are used in counting various other ol)je(^ts, and seem to lie 
in a transitional state toward becoming the regularly recognized niuner- 
als. When used as numerals, as noted above, their nu-^aning in that 
sense seems to be recognized by evervoue. 

Two is usually miil'-u-ghi'ik, but it is often replaced liy <(/'•/)<(, which 
means second, or a pair. This latter word is used commonly to desig- 
nate one of a pair, such, for instance, as in siieaking of the close friend 
of another jjerson, who is referred to as his ni'-im. Tlie name for the 
right arm and hand taken together is tii-lilik'-pik. 

The term for live is tii-lili'-niik. The right hand alone is called 
tiihlik'phu ni'-lii {III' Ink = hand, either right or left . 

Nine is ko'-Vn'i-o-iiho tni'-lU'i-itn, from knVin', ten, and lui'-tiik, ii<it, or 
lacking: i. e.. ten lacking one. 

Ko-lni'. ten. is from ko-hJi', the u|.per half or the np|ier part of Hie 
body, or the count of the lingers. The word half is /,.- kiin. 

Twenty is iju-i' uiik, from ynk, man, and means -a man complcled. 



2;58 TIIF, ESKIMO AllOUT liERING 8TRAIT [kth.ann. 18 

When tlu> ])oison reaclu's twenty he will very often say yiii-ii<ikli'-tdk, 
meaning "the man is tini.sheil." If he i.s asked how many fingers and 
toes he has eouuted he will reply " (/((i'-wu/.-." 

Wheu forty is reached a singular change takes place iu the uamiug 
of the twenties, h^'or instance, forty is mlil' ■ u-ghxi-l' -p'l-iik, from mal'-il- 
f/Juik, two, and i'-pi-iik, a set of animal's legs and paws, with the toes, 
this last coming from i'-plk, the name given to the combined leg, foot, 
and toes of any mammal. Thus forty becomes " two sets of animal's 
l)aws." In this way each su(!ceeding twenty is designated by combin- 
ing one of th(» cardinal numbers with i'-j)i-iik up to four hundred. At 
til is point a change occurs, and the idea of a man is combined with that 
of the animal, as follows: Four hundred is 2/M-('-n«Hi yum ipi'. This 
may bo analyzed as follows: yii-i'-iiam, twenty; yum, of a man's; i-j)!', 
sets of paws; or, "twenty sets of man's paws," this meaning twenty 
times twenty. 

The following tables of Unalit numerals, with explanatory notes and 
the facts already given, will render ])lain tiieir system of counting. 

The first column iu the tirst table gives the numerals as commonly 
used when counting the lingers and toes; the second column gives the 
forms used in counting exterior objects or to express a complete num- 
ber. These two sets of numbers are sometimes interchangeably used, 
so that no invariable custom detines their usage. 

1. I'l-luii -tsik u-Uiii'-hik. 

2. miH -li-gkuk, or ai -pa mnt-ii-yliiik, or «i -pa. 

3. piii-a'-shu-uk pifi-ai'-ifint. 

4. sta'-milc sta'-mi'm, 

5. t<i-ltli'-mik id-hli'-mihi. 

ii. (t-tthu-bln''f/hitk a-f/liti-htii -hi/n. 

7. miil-ii-glnin' -Ihjn mul-n-i/liiiii iujn. 

S. })in-ai-i/ii)i'-li!iii ^i)(-ni-^H»'-/i(/». 

!». ko'-lin-o-gho-tai'-liri-i'in ku'Hri-o-i/lin-tai -liii-ihi. 

10. kv-liii' ko-liii'. ' 

11. at-khakh'-tok, or a-tau'-txik ko-ltV {t-lau'-ini-miik chi -pi-tdk. 

\'2. aV-pa, or miil-u-iihuk _ . ko-hV mal-ii-gu'-nik chl'-pi-ii)k. 

13. pin-a'-shu-iik • ko-ld' pii'i-ai'-yiin-ik chV-pi-tuk. 

14. sta'-mlk _ ko-Ia' sta'-min-ik chl-pt-tuk. 

1."). H-ki'-m\-ak. or lil-hli'-mik kola' ta-liH-mihi-ik clii-pi-ti)k. 

Hi. gi(kh'-tvk ko-h'i a-gliu-bin'-li<iii-ik rhi-pi-tok. 

17. ai'-pa, ov miil'-ii-ijliiik kola' luiil-u-ghun' ligii-ik cln-jh-tok. 

15. 2>tn-a'sliu-iik ka-la' pih-ai' -ijun-ltgn-ik clii-pi-U'ik. 

19. xta'-mik ko-lir ko-liri'-oijlio-lai'-lin-ag'-a-g'uk'. 

20. jiii-i'-niik, or tii-lili -nuk tjii-i'-inik. 

21. a-taii'-tsik !iit-('-iii'ik a-tan'-lsi-miik rhip-hhi-kn. 

22. ai'-pii, or miiV-u-yhiik i/u-i'-nuk miil-ii-yhtin'-ik vh'ip'-lilii-kii. 

23. pln-a'-shu-uk i/ii-i -niik piu-ai-ijiin-ik cltip'-hht-ki(. 

24. sta'-mik yii-i'-jiuk .fla'-miii-ik chip'-hln-kii. 

25. ta-hli'mik i/u-i -iiiik ta-lili'-miii-ik dup'-hUi-ku. 

26. a-;ihii-h'iii-gluik yii-i -ynlk o-ghii-biii'-lUjn-ik ckip'-hlii kii. 

27. mal'-ii-ghnn'-Ugn ijii-i- iiilk miil-i'(-glniii'-ligii-ik chip'-hhi-ku. 

2.S. pin-ai-ijini'-lujn yii-i'-iiiik piri-ai-i/nii -Ugii-ik cliip-hlii-kii. 



""'■''"''^ SYSTKM OF NTMKK-ATION ■.,•5.1 

./ ■ . '■"-ii>i-u:il"i. „i -hii.oq .11.11 1,1, ,1,111. 

hlii.k,,. ■ ' 

^"- '■■"■'"' 'l"-i -nil. I..,.U„ -U cU, i,-l,l„.h„ 

40. mill -ii-ghii-i-pi-ia. 

'lO. iiiiil -I'l-gliu-i -jtiiil. ku-lin -il.- i-Uqi -,.UIii -leu. 

tiO. j)ii'i-ai'-ii)in i -pi-iik. 

70. piii-ai'-!iun i'-pi-iik ku-lin -ik i-liii, -i-hh, ./,,(. 

80. sta -miin i .pi-iik. 

00. stii'-mun i -i)i-iik ko-lin -ik chij, -i-lila -kii. 

100. tii.hli-mii7i i'-pi-iik. 

•100. i/i(-i -iiiim i/um i-pi' . 

It will be noted that nuiiu'ial.'^ aliove ten in (l,,- .st'cmd coluiun have 
the verb chi'-ju-tdlc, siguilyiiij.;- ••it i,-< added." or ••additional." Tlm.s 
Lo-hi' a-taii'-tsi-mi'ik clii'-pi-tdl; means, literally, -to ten one is added." 
Above twenty the verb chjp'-hlu-hii, or chip' i lihi-hu, is used, meaiunu 
"is added of tlie next." Thus i/ni' in'il: !it,ni'tsi-miil; ihip'-hhil<ii 
means, literally, '• twenty, and one is added ot liie next." 

The ordinal numbers are as follows: 

First clii-ok -hlik. 

Second ki,-,-nk'-hlik. 

Third i,in-,i'-sl,„-,;i. 

Fourth ■•■lit -mil. 

Fifth lii-hli'-mit. 

Sixth it-ijhu-hin'.iilnit. 

Seventh miiV-u-ijhuri -H-;ihiil. 

Eighth pii'i-ai-iimi -li-rjliiil. 

Xinth ko-liii-o-iih(,-tui -liii-D-iit. 

Teiitli ku-Hn-o-iil'. 

Eleventh ko-lim' chip -nii-iilid. 

Twelfth k,i -Un miil-,i-!ihii'-,iiii,ik ,hi,, -mii-iil. 

Thirteeutli ko-lin iiii-i-ai'-yu-iiik chip -mu-iit. 

Fourteenth ko-lin .itii'-miin-ik chiii -uiii-iil. 

Fifteenth ii-ki'-ini-a-(ilii!t. 

Sixteenth ii-ki'-nii-aiim chip -uil-iiho. 

Seventeenth ii-ki -m:-<ik miil-ii-iihu'-,iii-iiik ihip -niii-iil. 

Eighteenth ii-ki -ini-iik jiii'i-ni -yu-iiik chiji -niii-iit. 

Nineteenth ii-ki -mi-iik ula -niiin-ik chiii'-niii-nl. 

Twentieth ii-ki -mi-tik lii.hli'-miin-ik chiii'-iiiii-nl, or i/»-" -n«V. 

Thirtieth yu-i-,i,}k l.o-lin-ik chip'-nii'i-nk. 

Fortieth miil-ii-(ilink i -jti-a -ijhnl. 

Fiftieth ,„iil-,-(-,/hi,k i i,i-,ik ko-li-miik chip-nU-iik. 

Tlie numerals of repetition are: 

Onci' ii-lan'-tsikb kn'-niiik. 

Twice mill' -ii-iihiikh kn'.(ju-nik. 

Thice times ptn-ai -iinkh kn'-nik. 

Four limes xia'-miikh kn'-nik. 

Five times tii-hli'-miikh kii'-nik. 

Six times li-iihii-hin -hikh kn -nik. 

Seven times miil.ti-ijhiin -liikh li, -nik. 

Eight times piii-ai-ijiin -liikh kn -nik. 

Nine times ko'-lin-o-jhn.hu .l,h-okh I. n .nik. 

Ten times ko -lin-okh kn -nik. 



240 



THE ESKIMO A150UT HERIXG STRAIT 



Kle^ en times 

T\v..-lve tiim-s 

Thirteen times 

Fimrteeii times 

I il'tecn times 

Sixteen times 

Seveuteen times 

Eighteen times 

Nineteen times. - . . 

Twenty times 

Tliirty times 

Forty times 

Fifty times 

Sixty times 

The distributiv 



One til e;ieh 

Tyco to each 

Three to eaeh 

Four to each 

Five to each 

Six to each 

Seven to each 

Eight to eaeh 

Nine to each 

Ten to eaeh 

Eleven to eaeh 

Twelve to eaeh 

Thirteen to eaeh .. . 
Fourteen to each. . . 

Fifteen to each 

Sixteen to each 

Seventeen to each . . 
Eighteen to eaeh. .. 
Nineteen to each . . . 
Twenty to each 

Tliirty to each 

Forty to laih 

Fifty to each 

Four liiuidreil to eaeh 

Followiugareau 

How many ? . . . 

Several 

One only 

Two only 



.kn-hi a tan -txilli l.ii'-nik. 

.1.0 -td miil -r,-(jlnlUi III -nil,. 

. lo -Ul pifi-ai'-yiilh kir-iiik. 

.ko'-ltl sta'-miikh kn'-nik. 

.ko-h1 lii-hU'-mi'ikh kii -iiik. 

.ko'-Id <Ughu-blii-hikh ku-,iik. 

.ku-Ji) miil-ii-ijhiiii' hikli kn -ink. 

.kii'-Ji'i iiln-ai-yun -liilli kn -iiik. 

.ko'-hi ko-Un-o-ijho-tai -Jhl-ukh kn -nik. 

.jlii-i-niikli ku'-niiik. 

.jin-i -niik ko'-Vni-nkli kn -nik. 

.miil-ii-nhnk i-pi-nkh kn -miik. 

miiV -n-nhiik i'-pi-iikli ko-lin-nkh kii-nik. 

pin-a'-ijim i'-pt-iikh kn -nik. 

miiiiornls are: 



Inn tsi-i) kii-fjlinkli -lii-kn. 
mul-ii-ijlin kd-ghiilJi -In-kn. 
piri-a-.ihn-i',kti-!/Iinkh-ln-kn. 
stn-miin ka'-ghakk -hi-ku. 
tii-lili-nian ka'-i/hakh'-ln-kn. 
n.flhn-hin -likh-kok ka'-tihiikh -In kn. 
nial-ii-iiliiin' nkli-kok ka-yliakli -Ill-kit. 
2>in-ai'-iinn-likli-kok ka'-riliakh'-hi-kn. 
ko-lii'i-o-yho-lai -Uri-okh -kuk ka -gli<(kh'-hi-kii. 
ko-lin-okh-kok ka'-<iliakli'-hi-kit. 
ko-hi ti-tiin'-txi-milk chip -iiii'ikh ki'i-gliakh'-lu-kn. 
ko-lii miil-n-ijhiin -ik rkip -niiikh ki'i-ijhakh' -lu-ku. 
ko-hi piii-(ii -ijiin-ik rhip -niiikh kil-iihakh'-Iu-ku. 
ko-Jii xUi-miin -ik chiii-ninkh kii-iihakh'-hi-ku. 
ko-hi tii-hli -miiii-ik or, ti-ki'-ini-tikh' ka-i/hiikli' -In-kn. 
li-ki -mi-iik ii-laii-lsi-miik chip-niTikh kii-iihiikh -In-kn. 
i)-ki -ini-iik miil-ii-iihnn -ikh vhip' -niiikh h'l-ghakh -hi-kn. 
li-ki -iii-iik jjiii-iii ■//«»-(/,■ ihip -nirdli kii-ghakh -In-kn. 
K-ki'-ini-iik sla'-niiiii-ik chiji -nii'ikh kii-ghakh' -hi-kn. 
li-ki' -mi-ilk I ii-hli' -min ik chip'-ninkh kii-ghakh -In-kn, or 

gii-i -nam kii-ghiikh'-lii-kii. 
j/n-i'-niik k,i'-liii-ik kii-,jhiikh'-ln-kn. 
miil -li-ijhu-i -pi-ii -ghii k,i-gh,ikh -In-kn. 
miii-ii-ghii-i-pi-iik ko'-liii-ik kii-ijhukh' -In-kn. 
ilii-i-nnin I'-pi-iim kii-ijlnikli -In-kn. 

uiuljer of iniscellaiiedus terms Ijeaiiufi' on miiiieiatidii : 

.kiif-ihi-n -lit .' 
.kiif-ihikhiiii. 
.ii-liin -Isi-khiik. 
.miil-ii-ghit'-khiik. 



Three only piii-ai gn-khiin. 

Four only xtu mii-khiin. 

Five only tii-lili -mii-khiiii. 

Six only ii-ghu-lnn'-li-khiin 

Seven only miil-ii-ghun' -U-khiin . 

Eight only pin-ai-yun' -li-khiin . 

Nine only ko-liu' -o-gho-1ai' -li ii-o-khiin. 

Ten only ko-lti'-khiin. 



'^■1 UNi'i OK r>Ai;Ti:i; — vim..\..es 

'il.i-ini-a ■khiiu. 



■-'41 

Fi I'toeii onl \- 

Twenty only 



^ , H't-i iKi-l.liiin. 

Forty onlv „. •i; ■ , , ■, 

One-half (m l<Mii;th) I.n-biii -lii ki , I 

Oiie-balf (in (niantity) „.,;ti.i.: '■,, . , .. 

A part or jjortion, in length or iiuanlity.. . (iii-ulji lik 

All : ,,i„.a„. 

^""'' ,,i uv.. 

For purposes of 1. mI.t four skins <,f r\w reindeer fawu-iust euou-h 
to make a fur coat or parkie— are tied in a bunch and called a •■i)arkie 
of fawn skins.'- The followin- set of numerals is used in countin- 
these sets of fa\yn skins or parkies: " 

One parkie of fawu skins ii-tiiii'-lsi-kiil. 

Two parkii's of fawn skins miH ■/'(■iiliu -i-kiit. 

Threi- parkies of fawn sUins piit-a-ihu -i-kiU. 

Fonr parkies of fawn skins sld-mni-kiit. 

Five parkies of fawn skins lii-lili-nwi-kiil. 

Six parkies of fawn skins a-<ihn-bi,i -likli-kiit. 

Seven parkies of fawn skins m<il-i'i-,jhi(H'-likh-k,'it. 

Eiiiht parkies of fawn skins j>iii-ai-t/iin'-l'(kli-kiil. 

Nine parkies of fiiwn skins ko -iui-o-glio-tai'-lin-okh -kiit. 

Ten parkies of fawn skins ko -li-kiit. 

Eleven parkies of fawn skins ko-li-kiit ii-lau'-tsi-i,ik rliip-i-lnl. 

Twelve parkies of fawn skins ko-Ji-kiit iiml-ii-r/hii'-i-iiik rhip-i-lut. 

Thirteen parkies of fawn skins h, -li-ki'd jiUhu-shu'.i.nik c/ii;) -i-liil. 

Fotu-teeu parkies of fawn skins ko -li-kiU sin-mai'-nik chip -i-liil. 

Fifteen parkies of fawn skins ko'-li-kiil t<i'-hli-mai'-)iik chip i-Utt. or ii-ki -mH- 

I'lkk-kut. 

Sixteen parkies of fawn skins <i-ki'-nu-iikh-kiH ii-lau-Ui-nik rhip'-i-lnt. 

Seventeen parkies of fawn skins it-ki -mi-akh-kiU iiuil-a-ghii'-i-iiik chip -.-/«(. 

Eighteen parkies of fawn skins (i-ki'-mi-ukh-kiit piii-a-shu'-i-iiik chip i-tnl. 

Nineteen parkies of fawn skins ii-ki'-mi-ukh-kiU ntn-mai-nik chip i-liil. 

Twenty parkies of fawn skins ii ki -mi-tikh-ki'il U'i'-hli-mai -nik chip-i-lid, or 

i/ti-i -iiukh-kiik. 

Forty parkies of fawn skins miil -li-ijhn-i'-pt-akh'-kiik. 

Sixty parkies of fawn skins pin-in'-i/Kn i'-jti-akh'-kiik. 

vUjIjAgks axi> iiorsKs 

The Eskimo villages of \yestern Ahiska are located with reference to 
|)roximily to hunting" ami fishing grounds and to the most favorable 
landing place for their kaiaks and umiaks that may be found. The 
sites vary greatly, from the head of some beautifully sheltered cove to 
the precipitous face of a nx-ky slope, as on Sledge and King islands. 
Formerly, the constant danger from hostile raids caused the people to 
choose locations for their dwellings which were easy of defense. Tiiis 
is demonstrated by the sites of ruins on the coast of Bering sea and the 
ruins of former Eskimo villages on the Arctic coast of .Liberia, north- 
westward of IJering strait. 

These ancient villages were built usually on the higliest iminis of 
islands, near the shore, or on high capes or peninsulas comnianding 
IS ETn 10 



242 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



a wide view over both sea aud laud. Formerlj-, as at present, the vil- 
lage was usually an irregular group of semi subterranean houses built 
about a large central building, called by the Unalit, Idij'-i-ifi. This term 
corresponds to the name lashim ' of the fur traders, which has been 
used thronghout this paper to designate structures of this kind. 

These buildings are on the same general plan as the dwelling houses, 
but are much larger and are used as the central point of the village 
social life. They are ordinarily maile large enough to contain all the 
villagers, besides guests that may come during festivals. In some of 
the villages, however, where the number of inhabitants is considerable, 
two or more of these buildings are constructed. Their size is neces- 
sarily limited by the material available, which is mainly drift logs cast 
up along the shore. The people of the lower Yukon have a tradition 
that there formerly existed below Ikogmut a village that contained 
thirty- live kashims; at jiresent there are uuinj' villages in which there 
are two of these buildings. 




Snow houses, so common among tlie Esldmo of Greenland ajiu other 
eastern regions, are known iu Alaska onlj' as temporary shelters erected 
by hunters when out on short excursions from their village during 
winter; they are termed ('nt-i-f/u-i/ul-', and their use is familiar to all of 
the Eskimo, although they are so rarely constructed. 

On Kowak river there are villages in which the Eskimo have adopted 
from their Tinn(' neighbors the use of couical lodges for summer use, 
and it is worthy of note that the former appear to have adopted other 
customs from the same source. On Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers the 
contrary is the case; there the Tinne have adopted many of the Eskimo 
customs and usages, while the Eskimo appear to have derived very little 
from their Tinne neighbors. 

The Eskimo of the Kuskokwim and northward to the vicinity of 
Bering strait have summer villages, built iu a more or less permanent 
manner, to which they resort during the fishing season. From Kotze- 
bue sound northward the people use tents or skin lodges while at their 
fishing stations in summer. 



u.v kiij'-f-gl." 



^T MlniAKI, DWKi.I.IX,, 



U3 



A typical dwellius- house used l,y tl,,. po.iple of St Mirlia,.] is 
structed by buildin-;' a rectaiijiular trail lewm 
ill the middle and ■'> leet at the sides 



f h'<rs. S or il reel hj^di 
his is covered with smaller lo"s 



or rude slabs, over which earth is tiirown t.) a thickness of .{ or" 
feet, liaised platforms occupy three sides of the sin-le room and -ii 
used tor sleepin- places, commonly by a faniilv on each side Tlie front 
of the room has a low. arched doorway leadin- in from the outer cov 
ered eutry, which is used only in summer, when a bcarskiu haii-s over 




the doorway as a curtain: in winter tins entrance is closed and an 
uudergrouiul passage or tunnel leads from the outer end of the covered 
eutry way to a point below the iloor just inside tJie siininier door. The 
place on each side of the door, or an unoccupied i)latforiii on one side of 
the room, is used for the storajfc of l)as« of f^eal oil. wooden dishes, tubs, 
or other domestic utensils, and of articles of food. Fiuui'e 74 is a sec- 
tion plan of one of these houses. Each family has a small saucer-shape 
clay lamp biiruiug uear its iilatform. On the eartheu Hoor directly 



244 THE F-SKIMO AT'.OfT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

under the smoke lidle is a fireplace, where cooking- is done; fhis usu- 
ally has a thit slab of stoue set edgewise in the tioor on the side toward 
the doorway to serve as a wind-break for preventing drafts from striking 
directly on the fiie. 

Many of the houses are bnilt with a long, low, covered passageway, ' 
used both in winter and in summer, and the underground entrance is 
omitted; some houses are very narrow and have only one wide sleeping 
bench at tlie rear end, where one or two families are accommodated. 

In some cases the entrance passage above ground is large enough to 
serve as a storeroom, but usually every household is the owner of a 
storehouse. Where timber is scarce, as in the country between Cape 
Vancouver and the mouth of the Kuskokwini, these are built of turf. 
At Point Barrow underground storerooms, with a trap iu the roof, 
were seen. At St Michael storehouses are erected on four stout posts, 
made from drift logs, set firmly in the ground and projecting 10 or 12 
feet, forming an e(iaal-sided quadrangle. About 5 feet from the ground 
the hewed ends of timbers are inserted to form parallel stringers, on 
which are laid roughly hewed sticks for a tioor, the ends projecting 
2 or 3 feet on either side. To form the walls rough planks are fitted, 
with their ends locked by means of notches. The top is covered with 
sticks similar to the flooring, on which is placed a grass thatch or 
sometimes a covering of earth. The doorway in front, 2i to 3 feet 
square, is framed beside one of the corner posts by a roughly hewed 
cap and jamb; the door is of rough plank, on rawhide hinges, fastened 
by a stout cord. 

Outside on the projecting ends of the tioor are hud the sledge, kaiak, 
and other objects belonging to the owner, while the inside serves as a 
receptacle for food supplies and other jierishable articles. 

The accompanying illustration (figure 75) gives a good idea of a 
typical storehouse of this character. 

Where timber is abundant, as on the lower Yukon, these storehouses 
are more elaborately constructed, being raised from 6 to 8 feet above 
the ground, with the posts arranged and held in place in the same 
manner as in those at St Michael. The front and rear walls are made 
of well-hewed planks, set upright, with an oval door in the center of 
the front, access to which is gained by a notched log. The ends of the 
floor logs project in front far enough to support separate cross sticks, 
forming a narrow outside platlbrm. On the sides, the planks forming 
the walls are placed horizontally. The roof has a double pitch, and is 
usually made of bark held iu place by cross sticks or other weights. 
The upright planks that form the front and rear of these structures 
are held in position by crosspieces extending between the corner posts, 
as shown in plate Lxxxi. 

Ill addition to the storehouses, every village has elevated frames 
upon which sledges and kaiaks may be placed ; this is necessary, owing 
to the number of dogs iu every village and the danger of their eating 



'"'■-"""■J KASHIM CONSTRICTION 245 

the rawhide covers of tlie kaiak.. and the lashinss of the sledo-os 
Tliese trames are lonned usually of (u.. ho.i.ontah parallel ,,ok.s^.; 
small logs, raised on posts will, r,„-k..d ..,uls or mortised into the 
timber, their s.ze ami streu.ulh d..iu.udi„. .„, the ahundanee of neees- 
sary uuiterial. 

Kashims are eommon everywhere aaioiii;- the llskiniu and hive been 
adopted by theadJaeeutTium- of lower Vuk(Mi aud Kuskokwin, rivers 
They vary 111 size aecordiiij;- totlie luuiiberof inhahiiants in the village" 

The material used for these structures is driftwood, consistii ' i,r<r.s 

and poles which doat down the rivers in spiinj;- an<l are strewn alon^ 
their banks or carrie<l to sea and scattered alon- ih,. cast dnrin- the 
following summer. Siiruee is the most coninion variety. The logs are 
usually deprived of their bark by friction ami are seasoned by cximsn're. 
Logs 1.1 or 20 inches in diameter are not unconunon. and" some are 
found reaching ;«) feet in length; as a rule, however, the timbers are 
much smaller. 

In coustructing a kasliim tlic logs arc laid in ihc form of a s.mare 
to the height of 7 or S feet; from thence they are drawn in on every 
side, in alternate courses, until the last are short, and surionnd a s(piar'e 
opening in the roof, directly over the middle of the room, and from !» to 
12 feet above the floor, forming a frame for the smoke hole, whii^h is 
about 2 or 2^ feet in width. If the building is small, it is covered with 
a heavy layer of earth, but if large, a crib work is buiU around it, held 
together by a frame, so as to inclose the building and form a ihmble 
wall, inside of whiidi is thrown a heavy layer of earth. 

The floor is usually of hewed plauks laid close together, and occupies 
about one-third of the area of the room, in the shape of a scjuare in the 
center; it is laid on sills at the end so tluil the planks can readily l)e 
taken up; below these there is a pit from .'5 to 4 feet deej), in which the 
fire is built to heat the room for sweat baths, or at rare intervals in 
winter; but usually the heat from the bodies of the occui)aiits keeps the 
temperature so high that they remain nude, or partly so, much of the 
time, even in winter. Other ]danks usually cover the ground back to 
the walls, although in many i)Iaces, especially where wood is scarce, the 
floor of this portion of the room consists merely of the earth, beaten 
hard. The entrance consists of a long, roofed jiassage. built of logs 
and covered with earth; the outer end of this is faced with planks, 
over which is a square, round, or arched doorway leading into the loom 
in summer, when it is closed only by a bearskin curtain. In winter 
this entrance, which is above the ground, is do.sed tightly, and a loiiml 
h(de in the door near the outer end of the upi)er ])assage leads through 
a low tunnel, along which the people jiass on their hands and knees to 
the lire pit, and thence tliiough a circular or oval hole to the middle of 
the room. 

These rooms are from 12 to 2.") feet m|'i;"'''- Around the inside, about 
4 feet from the tloor, extends a l)ench, hewed trom a sm-lc log. i:. to 18 



216 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



iuclies 'Wide and iisually from -4 to G inches in thickness, or left half 
rounded below ; this heavy bench is supported by stout sticks placed 
diagonally across the corners of the room, and is used as a sleeping 
place, also as a seat during festivals and at other times. 

At the back of the room, supported on an upright post from 2 to 3 
feet high, a lamp is kept burning, by public contribution, at all times 
when the kashim is gloomy. A gut-skin cover is used over the smoke 
hole at all times, except when the Are is burning in the pit, or when the 
heat becomes too oppressive. 

The accompanying illustration (figure 76) shows the outside of the 
kashim at St Michael, with the long passageway of logs. A sectional 
plan of one of these buildings is given in figure 77. 




rikmiktalik was a very pojiulous place in the days when reindeer 
were plentiful along this coast, some ten or fifteen years previously to 
my residence in this region; but in 1878 only two or three families 
remained, and the kashim and other houses were falling to i^ieces. 

Pastolik, near the Yukon mouth, is the sonthernmost settlement of 
the Unalit, and its buildings are typical. Ascending the Yukon and 
passing several unimportant little villages, the first characteristic 
settlement of the Yukon Eskimo is readied above Andreivsky. From 
that point up the river the towns are similar to one another, consisting 
of winter houses and kashims built on the ordinary plan, and of large, 
loosely built summer houses of hewed planks on an inner framework, 
with sloping roofs. 



KASIIIMS 



247 



S illltl 



Tlu; village of Starikwiklipak ahovo Amlreivskv. is built o„ 
bank of the Yukon in the midst of a thick growt'h of tall ahh- 
cottonwoods, and contains about forty i)eo|)le. 

Next above is Kazbinsky. containing- some twenty-fivc houses and 
two kash.ms. It us the largest existing- village of the Yukon KsUin... 
and the only one seen that was arranged witli any de-ree of n-,,' 
larity. There the winter and suunner houses are built to-'ether -md 
the rude alignment of the sunuuer houses is evidenced in the illustra- 
tion (plate LXXXii). The summer houses front a small creek whlc'li 
flows into the Yukon at that point. Hack of them, in a more regular 
arrangement, are most of the winter houses. Near one eiul of thi.s 
row are two kashims, and imnu'diateiy back of them is tlie graveyard 
the latter forming a part of the village and becoming so olVeusive iii 
summer that it is impossible at tinu's for the fur tra<lers to camp in 
the vicinity. 

The summer houses at this place and ail along the Yukon up to 




Paimut, the ujiper Eskimo village on the liver, are alike built of heavy 
slabs and planks split and hewed from drift logs. 

Plate Lxxxir, from a iihotograj)h, is a view taken at Hazbinsky in 
■winter, showing the tojis of some winter houses in the foreground and 
a row of plank summer houses in the background. 

The summer houses throughout tliis part of Alaska vary so slightly 
in the details of their construction that a descriptiou of those seen at 
Hazbinsky will serve as typical of all in that region. The front and 
rear ends are constructed of roughly hewed planks set upright; the 
sides are of horizontal timbers hewed and loosely fitted. About live 
feet from the giound a log extends from side to side of the structure, 
resting upon two posts in the middle, with braces at either eiul, iiav- 
ing their ends set in the ground, and connected by similar logs which 
extend from front to rear along the eaves. 

In some Louses the braces at the front and rear are replaced by two 
tall poles set in the ground midway between tiie corners, two or three 



248 THE ESKIMO ABOUT TiERING STRAIT [eth. A»fx. 18 

yards ai)art and projecting several feet above the top of the roof. 
Leiigtliwise over the top of the house exteud hewed sticks which hold 
ill i)osition the upright posts and the logs that bind the upright planks. 

The use of crosspieces fastened at each end to the top of upright 
timbers is. a common method adopted by the Eskimo of Norton sound 
and the lower Yukon for binding the framework of their structures. 
Braces, which iit into a notch in an upright post with the other end 
planted in the ground, are also commonly used. Sometimes the walls 
of summer houses are built with ujiright sticks all around, as can be 
seen at Ikogniut, but more commonly the ends are formed of upright 
pieces and the sides of timbers laid hoi-izontally. The inner frame- 
work is bound together by withes or wooden pins and held in place at 
the eaves bj' joists, across which are thrown poles or planks, forming 
an open attic or idatform for the storage of dried fish and other arti- 
cles of food, nets, and various imi)lements. The roof is double-pitched 
and covered with slabs or planks over which pieces of bark are laid. 
Along the sides of the room, at from one to three feet above the floor, are 
broad sleeping platforms, which accommodate from one to three fami- 
lies. In the front, a foot or two above the ground, a semilunar piece 
is cut from each of two adjoining jdanks, forming an oval doorway 
about three feet high. Small square or round windows, a few inches in 
diameter, are sometimes cut in the walls near the sleei)iiig platforms. 
There is also plenty of ventilation from otlier directions, as very little 
effort is made to prevent the wind from circulating freely through the 
numei'ous cracks. 

Plate Lxxxi, whii^h represents the storehouses at Ikogmut, shows 
also one of these summer houses in the background. 

In the winter of 1880 the i)eople at Paimnt were found living in their 
summer houses on a high bank overlooking the Yukon, and I was told 
that their winter village on the island in the river had been swept 
away by high water the season before. 

At ChukwLuk, just above Ikogmut, the winter houses, as is usual in 
this district, were arranged witli the sleeping platf<irms raised about 
three feet from the ground, leaving sjtace below for storing supplies. 
The house at which I stopi)ed was supplied with three of these plat- 
forms, each having its oil lamp on an upright i)0st. Near one lamp a 
woman was making a pair of ornamented gloves, and by another lamp 
a woman was braiding a straw mat. 

At a village in the ISig-lake district, lying in the strip of country 
between the two nearest pointsof lower Y'ukon and Kuskokwim rivers, 
the houses were of the oidinary kind, except that they were rather 
smaller than on the Yukon and had extraordinarily long entrance 
passages. 

Ai the base of Kuslevak mountains the houses were made of smaller 
timbers. Inought a long distance from the coast in boats, or fif a 
light framework of short, crooked alder trunks covered with brush 



■^■•""^■l DWKLLIXCS AXI. KASHIMs 249 

from tlie banks of the streams in the neighborhood. These bouse^; were 
very small and de|.enrted for their strengil, ,,artlv upon tlie hard frozen 
eovering- of earth. Igioga-anuit, a village King between Kuslevak 
monntains and Cape Uonianzof, consiste.l of several small hovels of tliis 
kind. Their interior plan was as near the nsnal ty|K' as the luaierial 
would allow, as the rooms were only U feet high to the small, s.piare 
smoke holes, wbieh were eovered with sheets of dear ice about 4 iiuhes 
thick instead of with the usual gutskin. From the smokeholesilie walls 
sloped to the ground, making inelosures from 12 to l.') feet iu diameter. 
These places were crowded with i)eop]e. On the earthen floors were 
hiyers of soft, decaying garbage of every description, from which the 
heat arising from the crowded human bodies evolved a sickeiung odor. 

Near Tape IJomanof was a summer lishing village of four houses, 
■which looked like so many mounds, about (> feet high. We found them 
to be built entirely above ground and of split drift logs, held up iu the 
usual manner and covered with earth. A scpiare opening ;■ feet high 
iu one wall served as a door, entering directly into the room, and the 
sipiare smoke hole in the roof formed the only other aperture. Sleej) 
ing i)latfi>rms were rudely made on the earthen tio<ir. 

Askiunk. south of Cape K'ouuin/of, is built on the top of an earthen 
mound which rises about 15 feet above the level of the surrounding 
country. The jiresent village covers nearly the entire top of this mouml. 
The inhabitants say that this elevation has accumulated from the long 
occuiiancy of the sjiot by their people, and its ]>rest>nt apjjearaiice 
would seem to justify the assertion. 

The houses are clustered together in the most irregular manner, and 
the entrances to the jiassageways leading to the interiors o])eii out iu 
the most unexpected places. Sometimes one of these passages o])eiis 
on the top of another house built lower down on the side of the nu)uiid, 
or, it may be, between two houses, or almost against the side of an 
adjoining one. Near by is a very extensive graveyard, which has some 
interesting burial places, but my visit was too brief to enable me to 
examine it carefully. 

The Askiunk kashim is like those at the m-xt village to the south, 
called Kusliuniik. At this place there are two kashims. the smaller one 
being about ;!(> by .'50 feet on the lioor and lilt feet high at the smoke 
hole. The walls are of split higs placed vertically, with their plane 
faces inward and resting at their upi)er ends against the logs whii'h 
form the framework of the roof: the lioor is of heavy hewed planks. 
Extemling around the room on the lioor. and about 'M feet from the 
walls, are small logs, serving to mark off the slcci)ing places of the 
men and at the same time as head rests, the sleepers lying with their 
heads toward the middle of the room. Three feet above and n inches 
nearer the walls other logs extend around the room, with plaidis 
between them and the sides, airor<ling a broa<l slc<-|.iug bench, sup- 
p(nted in the middle by upright j.osts and at each end inserted iu the 



250 



THE ESKIMO ABOCT BERING STRAIT 



[EIH. AXN. 18 



wall of the structure. The roof is made by the usual arrangemeut 
of logs forming a rectangular pyramid with a flat top, in the middle of 
which is the smoke hole. The entrance passage is unusually high 
and roomy, opening directly into the kashim above ground by means 
of a round hole in the front of the wall. 

Ill winter the entrance is through a hole in the floor of the entrance 
passage, thence through the underground tunnel as usual to an exit 
hole, which has ou each side a walrus tusk with the point and base 
sunk into the plank and the curve upward, affording convenient hand- 
rests when going in and out and preventing the necessity of placing 
the hands on the wet planks at the side of the hole. The plan of this 
kashim is shown in iigure 7S. 

In addition to the kashims, the village contained about twenty 
houses, accommodating about one hundred and twenty-five people. It 





Fl<i. 78 — Section of kashim at Knsbuuiik. 



is built in a straggling manner on a slightly rising piece of ground, 
with elevated storehouses and raised frameworks for the boats and 
sledges. The entire area covered is about a quarter of a mile in 
length. Xearer the sea is the site of an ancient village that was 
occupied by the ancestors of these people. 

To the southward of this place the next village was Kaialigamut, 
which contained about one hundred people and two kashims. The 
houses and kashims were like those of the last two villages described, 
except that the kashims were smaller and were provided with a second 
and narrower shelf above the Urst sleeping benches, on which the men 
placed their clothing and other belongings. 

The early Kussian traders who visited this district say that the peo- 
ple in these large villages had undergrouud passageways leading from 
the kashim to adjacent houses, for use in case of sudden attack by an 
enemy. A Hussian told me that he once discovered a passage of this 



N'^'-'^o^l IIOUSKS IX VARIOUS LOCALITIES 251 

kiud from tlie kasliim to an ancient liouse aii<l from tliere to anotlier 
house. It was furtber stated that iu tliose days the i)e..ph. made their 
houses hirger, so tliat they eoidd use their bows ni them for rei.ellin<' 
au attack by the enemy. " 

The vilhige of (Tkagamiit, near .Abmnr Robert Lincohi, contained 
about twenty people. Tlie liul s were extremely small, owing to the scar- 
city of wood. The interiors were excessively tilthy and i>ermeated witli 
the stench of decaying animal matter. The smoke holes were covered 
with slabs of ice, and the lloors were several inches deep with an oozy 
mass of refuse. The dried lish stored in the liouses and nsed for food 
was covered with blue and green mold, and the entire place was the 
most miserable that I saw in that region. The inhabitants were suf- 
fering from skin diseases and from the attacks of an ailment resembling 
epilepsy. 

Tnnunuk was a summer village on Cape Vancouver at the time of my 
visit in December, 1879. A few people were found wintering there. 
Wood was scarce and the houses were small and filthy. 

South of this point wood was .so scarce that in several villages there 
was none for making elevated storehouses, and for that purpose small 
huts were built of turf cut into slabs and laid up in walls, which were 
frozen solid and covered with Hat roofs of the same material. The 
doors, which were the only openings, consisted of slabs of frozen turf 
about 2i by 3 feet and i inches thi(;k. At one village I saw about 
twenty of these huts, all of which were i or 5 feet high and from (i to s 
feet ill diameter. 

In the second village south of Cajte Vancouver the houses were 
made of turf slabs laid up about the trail framework of small sticks 
and brush and covered with earth. This had been wet and frozen so 
that the walls were very firm, but the people stated that they would 
leave them early iu the spring, lor as soon as warm weather began the 
walls would melt and fall in. 

The smoke holes of the houses in all this district were covered with 
slabs of ice, from which the Jieat inside continually caused water to 
drop down the walls, rendering the floor a soft and sticky mass except 
in the coldest weather. 

From Cape Vancouver to the Kuskokwim the laiid is very low. and 
whenever the wind blows a gale in shore the coast villages are in dan- 
ger of being Hooded. The day before my arrival at Chalitmut the sea 
flowed inland and rose to a depth of three feet over the tioor of the 
kashim; the people who were caught inside made a hole in the roof, to 
which they crept and stayed for hour.s, until the water had subsided. 
Every few years the ice sweeps away one or more villages in this district, 
causing loss of life. 

At Chichiuagamut, in this district, a heavy rain fell during my stay, 
and the water came into the kashim from the surrounding drainage so 
that it was IS inches deep in the tunnel-like entrance passage and had 



252 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT F.ERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



to be baled ont twice a day. The kasbim was very small and low, with 
no tloor except the beateu earth; the tire pit in the middle of the room 
was in the depression which began at the walls and sloped gradually 
toward the center. This central depression was fall of water, and 
the entire floor was covered except for a narrow border about four feet 
wide around the sides. In this kashim two lamps were burning upon 
supiiorts, one on each side of the room. These supports were rudely 
carved in the form of a human face, representing quite a diftereut type 
from the countenances of the people, and constituted the only atteuii)t 
at such work that I saw among the Eskimo (figure 79). When the 
Kuskokwim was reached the abundance of driftwood was shown by 
the larger size of the houses and kashims, and by the presence of ele- 
vated storehouses and frames for sleds and boats. 
From St Michael northward along the coast of the mainland there 
existed a much greater variety of houses than 
_--^.-- had been noted to the southward of that 

place. From St Michael to Unaktolik, in- 
cluding Kigiktauik, Unalaklit, and Shaktolik, 
with a few smaller places, the houses are of 
the tyiio general among the Unalit, as the 
people belong mainly to that grouj). 

Tup-hanikwa, north of Unalaklit, had in 
February, ISSO, a single house, which was 
occui)ied by three families. The single room 
was 10 by 12 feet in dimension and about o.J 
feet high. On the night of my visit sixteen 
adults slept on the earthen floor of this small 
room. 

At the villages of Atnuk and ^STubviukli- 
chugaluk the houses were large, well made, 
and provided with a floor of hewed planks; 
the sleeping platforms were raised about IS 

Fir,. 79— Carvicl lamp siipport. • , ■, .i j 

inches above the floor. 
In March, ISSO, the village of Ignituk, near Cape Darby, contained 
about one hundred and fifty people. It was built at the mouth of a 
small canyon leading down to the sea, and the lower houses were on the 
upper edge of an abrupt slope 40 or 50 feet above the beach, where were 
arranged on sleds the kaiaks of the villagers ready for seal hunting on 
the sea ice. The houses had plank floors and broad sleeping benches. 
They were built with a small, siiuare anteroom, which was used as a 
storeroom for provisions, and from it a passage about 3 feet high and 
10 to 20 feet in length led to the round hole giving access to the living 
room. This hole was either in the end of the passage opening through 
the wall of the room just above the floor, or through the floor inside 
the front wall. In the middle of the tloor the planks were laid so that 
they could be taken up, as is done in the kashims. Close to the fire- 




VAiiidi's FDinis i)F iiorsKs 



2n3 



place, between it and the .loor. w;i.a laifre Hat slal. of sl.nu" ..laee.l on 
edo-e to protect tlie tire from tlie <l.alt. S,„i,o of tlie houses h,,! two 
sleepin- platforms, one above tlie otlier, llu. lower one raised very little 
above the lloor and the other about three fe.'t above it. I'iansof two 
ol' these bouses are show n in li.unres 80 and SI. 

Ou the Ion- strip of low, sandy coast, between I-niink and Cape 
Xome, were located a number of snudl lionses, whi.h were used by the 
people while snarinj;- marnK)ts (Spmnoiihilus panyl) in sprin- or 
when salmon tishinji in summer. These summer houses, or shekers, 
were conical lod-es. made by standing up sticks of driftwood iu a 




FiiL SO— Section nt'liousi' .11 I;;iiiliik. 

close circle, with tlieir tops leaning together, forming a structure like 
an Indian tipi; they were built by lirst lashing together tliree pieces 
of wood and setting them up like a tripod, the others being leaned 
against them to complete the rude structure. On the inside a rougli 
sleeping platform was supported on four corner stakes at the back of 
the room. A narrow vacant space between two of the logs, forming 
the wall, served as a doorwa.y. 

In the village on the north side of Caiie Nome the houses were built 
very much like those of Ignituk, but varied iu some particulars. 



^.c^ 




Fig. 81— Section of lioiise .it Ijniituk. 



They were constructed of driftwood, with an outer storeroom, which 
was entered through a hole in the roof, access to which was gaineil by 
means of a uotclied ladder. From this storeroom was a i)assage about 
three feet high, which ended in a hole leading thnmgh the wail directly 
onto the plank floor of the living room, which had a sleeping bench 
about four feet from the floor, anil l)elow this the lloor was usually occu- 
pied for the same purpose. Leading from the entrance storeroom 
were one or two other passages communuating with other living rooms, 
and on one side a short passage oi)ened into a room about s by W feet 
in dimension and or 7 feet in height, which served as a cooking room 



254 



THE ESKIMO Al'.OUT BERING STRAIT 



lor the group of families living in the structure, l^o fires were ever lit 
ill the living rooms. The sectional plan of one of these houses is shown 
ill figure 82, and a ground plan in figure S3. 

On Sledge island the winter village was perched on a steep slope, 
facing the sea, and well above the water. The houses were set one 




J'lU. s-j— Sc.-tiiin (.r liousc at Capu N 



back of the other on the slope of the rocky talus that extends up to 
the Lop of the high bhift'; they were built on the plan of those at Gape 
Nome, above described, except that the storeroom usually opened on a 
level with the ground in front, instead of through the roof. In July, 
18S1, this village was almost deserted, as the people were ou the adja- 
cent mainland engaged iu salmon fishing. 

In all the last-named villages elevated frameworks for boats and 
sledges were numerous; in those where the floors were made of hewed 




LAODEH 

Fig. 83— Groniiil plan of hou.sc at Cape Nome. 

planks, long use had worn them smooth and the inmates were careful 
to keep them clean, sweeping them as often as necessary with a little 
wisp of twigs. 

King island, in Bering strait, is a rugged mass of granite rising 
sheer from the water for hundreds of I'eet ou three sides, and on the 



N-ELsoM KING ISLAM) srMMKi; ircCSKS 255 

fourth side, where the vilh,,e i« h^eatcl. it is vny diflicnU to ,nake a 
a.ul.ng. Jn July, LsSl, the Conri. and...,-...! a fVw In.n.lrort yanls o 
the shore; the ru-ed granite walls rose in sl,arp, serrated; a.^-ular 
slopes almost perpeiuliealarly fn.n, the e.lj:e of tlu. water to the vilf,.r,. 
aud theuee upward to the high erest. Along the edge of the water 
great gran.te bowlders a.hled to the dillienltv ot landin- thenee m. 
to thevdlage a broken path zigzagged sharply np tlie ja-ed si.,.),' 
From the vessel the village presented th.- app..aran,e o'f a elnster of 
chtt-swallows' nests on the taee of the island, the entrant's to the 
houses looking like rounded black holes ainon- ihe granite bowlders 
used for their walls. As the .anchor eliain went rattling out the p.-,. 
pie, who had been watching us fioni thehonses, gave a load slnait an.l 
rau dowu to the water, leaping from rock to roek and looking like i>i<--- 
mies, so dwarfed were they by the gigantic bacdvground. 

The winter houses at this place were made by exravating the loose 
rocks, thus forming a deep niche in the steep slo"i,e. and by walling up 
the front and sides with stones j.laced over a driftwood" franie\u)rk. 
Access to these houses was gained by a long, arched stone passage- 
way, which sloped from the outer entrance in and np to a hole in the 
plank lloor. The inside of the living rooms were arranged with jilaiik 
floor and benches,.just as on Sledge island, but there were no outer 
storerooms or cooking rooms in the passageway. Driftwood was abun- 
dant there, but the principal material used for covering the houses was 
broken granite. 

The summer houses were remarkable struct arcs; they were sipiare 
inclosures, made wholly of tanned walrus hide, with a sliglitly arched 
roof of walrus skins drawn snugly over the wooden framework and 
lashed tirmly in place. The houses were elevated and held in ])lace 
by a framework which consisted of two main ])oles standing ni)right 
■with their bases fastened among the rocks and connected by a wooden 
crossbar lashed to them 10 or 20 feet from the ground. I^'roin this 
crossbar other bars extended on a level back to the slope of the hill, 
where they were made fast. The floor was of roughly hewcil jjlanks, 
and at the back rested against the face of tlu' hill. From the hillside 
a plank extended to one of the corners of the house, and a little iilank 
walk jiassed thence around the side of the house to the front, being 
railed by a pole lashed, at about the height of a man's hand, to ujjrights 
set in the rocks. On the seaward side was a circular oi)cning, which 
served as a combined door and window. I'igiuc St rc])resents one of 
these .summer houses. 

In some of these houses one coi-ner was walled off from the room with 
walrus hide as a sipiare inclosure to serve as a slee))ing room. In one 
of the houses the entire rear half was walled across and again snbdi 
vided by a walrus-skin i)artition, forming two sleei)ing rooms, entrance 
to which was given by a round hole cut in the skin. lOach of these 
inner rooms served for a family, aud contained their bedding and 



2i>r> 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



lETH. ANN. 18 



various small possessions, the longer onter room being a general sit- 
ting and work room and a receptacle for dried fisli and other stores. 
The translucent walrus hides rendered these houses very light, and 
they were kept quite clean. In summer fresh meat and lish were kept 
in a great cleft in tlie clift' close to the landing place, and accessible 
only from the water. There were various elevated frameworks here 
for storing the boats. 

On the larger Diouiede island, in the middle of Bering strait, the vil- 
lages differed in sevei-nl respects Irom those of the King islanders. 




"^^ . 



id. .. 



l"ir..S4— Walrus ,skii 



1 King island. 



The summer houses were built among the winter dwellings, and were 
above ground, with stone walls and gravel covered roofs. An arched 
stone passage, similar to those of the winter houses, but shorter, led to the 
living room. With the exception of being less carefully built to exclude 
water, these summer houses were very similar to those used in winter, 
liaised on four posts over or very near the entrance to eacli summer 
house was a storehouse, the supporting posts and framework of which 
were made from driftwood, and the sides and roofs of walrus hide, like 
the elevated houses on King island. 



HOrSKS AT KAST CAPI.: 



257 



At Cape Prince „f Walos. „„ tl.o A„u.,i<an .sl,„n> of V.niu. strut 
tl,ere were two yillas^s^ (.„.. ,„„, „.,. i,„ ,, t,„. ,„„^,.^,.„ ^.^ ' ^ 
cape was called the '' lul village," an.i the other, located .,„ ,he ,1a.. w 
called the "sp.t vllaoe."' Tl,ey were separated hy a space of ah.u.t 73 
yards. Iho houses were built of driftwood covered with earth -m,! 
were very similar to Ihos.. ot ,l,e Diomede islands. The peooic of 
these two villafics ha.l a standi,,.- feud that o.rasionally hroke into 
open quarrels. Those o,' the ^-spi, village- were the most asLM-essive 
aud were hated and feared by the others. ' 

Crossi,!- the strait a lai-e I'lskimo villa-e was fou,id on ,h.. onint of 
East cape, S,beria. This was built on a steep .slope Iron, in- ,!„. sei 
aud Its domesliape houses with small outer opcni,ms -a^ve it the 
same appearance of bein^- a cluster of clitf swallows' nests "that we hid 




P'lii. S.-i-Ksldiliii \ illa,i;c at Kiist i-iqii-. Silici i.i. 

noticed on o,U' approach to Ki,i.ii' isla,id. From the anchorage fifty four 
occujiied houses were cou,ited; these must Lave contained over two 
bundled a, id tifty people. 

Just aiou,id the cape, to the north, was a village of ei|nal size, wliich 
was not visited. The village on th(; [loiiiL was built on a slope of loose 
granite Iraginents i,ieli,ied at siuiii an angle that thee was space for 
only a narrow trail in front of most of the houses, aud then a sharp 
descent of some yards. The houses consisted of a stone wall laid up 
two or three feet from the ground, in oval form, aud continued in the 
shape of an arched or ojien top eutraiuo passage three ov ,'our yards 
long, as shown in figure .s.">. 

I'poii this stone wall was a framework of whale ribs arched to a com- 
mon point over one .side of the entrance, where they were met by the 
18 ETII 17 



2r)S THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STKAIT [etii.annIS 

jawbone of a whale, the upper end of wliicli was slightly curved inward 
to meet tlie ribs crossed on the top. The Jawbone, held in place by 
lashings and heavy stones, was thus made to sustain the weight of the 
structure. Over this framework tanned walrus hides were laul and 
secured by lashings and heavy stones or whale vertebra' attached to the 
ends of cords. The front part of the room wtxs used for storing various 
articles of f( lod and ])roperty, and the rear part was supplied with pologs, 
or small rooms, made by sewing reindeer skins into the form of a cov- 
ered s(juare or rectangular box without a bottom, about 7 or 8 by 10 or 
12 feet S(iuare and about i feet high, which were held in place by raw- 
hide ropes extending from each upper corner and the middle of the 
sides to the framework of the roof. In this way very close, warm rooms 
were made inside the house, in which, on a small raised platform of 
planks or beaten earth, the beds were placed. Each family had its own 
polog. Wood seemed to be very scarce among these people. The 
illustration shows the situation of the village and the position of the 
houses. The elevated platform on the right, for sleds and boats, is 
made of whales' jawbones (figure S.")). 

Scattered along the hillside among the occupied houses were the 
remaius of many ruined houses, which were similar in character to the 
dwellings seen on the Diomede islands — ]iartly underground, with 
external stone walls — and a very large number of i)its showed the sites 
of still older houses. It was evident that in earlier times these people 
had used underground houses exclusively, but more recently had 
abandoned them and built their dwellings in the manner described. 

At Plover bay, on the same coast, the village consisted mainly 
of walrus-hide huts similar to those at East cape, except that they 
had no stone walls about the bases, and the frames were composed of 
driftwood instead of whale ribs; but the interior arrangement of deer- 
skin pologs was the same. The illustration (i)late Lxxxiii a), from a 
photograph, will give an idea of the exterior of these houses. 

A few small, half underground houses of driftwood and whalebones 
covered with earth in the regular Eskimo style, were found here. On 
the northern side of the mouth of the bay a zigzag path leads high up 
on the bluffs to a rock-walled shelter used as a lookout to watch for 
whales or for vessels at sea. 

This village is not vei'y populous, and through the introduction of 
whisky and of various diseases by the whalers, wlio call here every 
season, the Eskimo at this point are in a fair way to become extinct. 
The accompanying illustration (i)latc Lxxxiv) represents two women 
from this locality. 

St Lawrence island had several large and populous villages previous 
to the year 1 870. During the winter of 187!)-'8() a famine, accomi)anied 
by disease, caused the death of at least two-thirds of the entire popu- 
lation of tlic island, and several villages were completely depopulated. 

During the summer of 1881 I visited these villages on the revenue 




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VILLAGES ON- ST LAWRKNCK ISLAM) 



25!) 



cutter Conriii, and tbuiul tlio tiun 



'"""' ••^'"•'■Olliuliii-thr vill;,-o sites rov- 

ered w.tl. corpses ot .he inln.l.i,.„ts; and d,..eus ..f tlu-n. were s.ill 
lyiiij;- where they had died in tin- li.mses. 

Ill two viHages at th- soathNvesteru end of the isla.nl ut-.v sevenl 
smunier houses of walrus skiu. Hke thos,- used a. IMovn- h-.y ..n'd 
various winter houses. These h.tter were trained with the jawbones 
and nbsot whales, which were iilanted in the grouml. arching in at the 
top, fornuuj.- an oval rraniewori< supportins the roof. Thehitter was 
made of similar bones with a little driftwood added, and the entire 
structure was covered with earth. Owin- to the scarcity of material 
these houses were small and rude, but were very similar to bnildin-s 
on the northern shore of Norton sound. " 

Close by the winter houses were elevated storehouses, upheld on four 
jawbones of whales i)hinted uijri-ht in the };round. Most of the 
summer houses were framed of long strips of bone sawed lenjjthwise 
from whales" jaws, with one end i)lanted in the ground and tire other 
bent over towaid a stout jawbone of a whale standing ui>right in the 
ground, on one sideof t he oval area inclosed 
by the bone strips. Alternating with these 
strips were whale ribs, which also curved 
over toward the upright post. The frame 
pieces were planted very shallowly in the 
ground and were held steady by a rock 
weighing over 100 pouiuls, which was hung 
fiom the post like jawbone which formed 
the main strength of the structure. An 
idea of these frames is given by the accom- 
panying sketch (figure S(!). 

The interior of these summer houses 
measured about 20 feet in diameter, and were supplied with pologs 
made of reindeer skins sewed together and suspended from the roof, 
as is done on the Siberian coast, l-'xteriorly they were covered with 
walrus skins, which were lashed on and held in jdace by heavy weights 
of stone, driftwood, and bones, to i)revent their l)eing toi)i)led over by 
the frequent gales. 

In a large village on the luirthern shore of the island, where all the 
inhabitants had perished, I found many similar summer houses, also 
some partly subterraneau winter houses, differing from any others seen 
in this region. They were rooftul with whalebones and driftwood, over 
which was the usual layer of earth. Over the outer etui of the jiassage- 
way was a roofed, stockaded shelter made of driftwood, with one side 
or a part of one side left open, facing away from the direction of the 
prevailing wind. These shelters were from o to M feet a(;ross aiul about 
~) or feet high. In the floor opened a sciuare hole, giving access to the 
passageway, which was - or ■> feet high and from 'lO to 7-"> feet in length 
and built wholly underground. In several iustauces they were curved 




Fig. 80— House fnimo i>l 
ami jawbone 



2C0 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



laterally or turned at au alible, as if to cut ofit' a draft; but it is possible 
this iiiay Lave been caused by starting at both euds of the tunnel wheu 
excavating" it and failing to meet in a direct line. The bouses had two 
sets of broad sleeping benches on the right and left sides of the room. 
Over the center of the floor was a square hole in the roof; just back of 




Fig. 87— Sect 



St Lawreuce island. 



this a round opening had been made, in which was fitted a large ver- 
tebra of a whale hollowed out to form a short cylinder, serving as a 
smoke hole or ventilator, which could be left open during stormy 
weather when the larger opening was covered. The accompanying 
section of one of these houses (figure 87) explains the method of their 
construction. 




Fig. 88 — SiinimiT 



At Cape Espenberg, on Kotzebue sound, in July, 1881, we found a 
camp of traveling Malenuit. 'J'hey had several low, roun<ltop tents, 3i 
to 4 feet high and to 7 feet wide, made of drilling drawn over slender 
poles crossed and bent, with their euds thrust into the ground. One 
conical lodge, also covered with drilling, was about 10 feet high and 8 
leet in diameter on the ground. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHMOLOGV 



H ANNIUL RCPORT PL 




WOMEN OF PLOVER BAY, SIBERIA 



NELSON] 



ST-MMF.K CAMl' 0\ IIOTIIAM IXLKT 



2(U 



At Iloniam iiiU't. m-ai- the lu-ad „r K,,t/clni 
July of the same year, a larj^c -athcriim- of ]■] 
]Soatak rivers was seen. T 



)iiiiil. oil tlic l.-.th of 
no from Kowak ami 

. V • r . '^'•^' ''■'■'■*' ''\i"J;' i" 11 low of coMical lodges 

exte,ulmo-,n ahne forinore than a ,uih. alon,^ a low. san.lv spit .^ 
allel to the shore of the soun.l. Fi;:ure S8. (Von, a photosi,,,! i h - 
trates tb:s ,nunp tor the season of ISSl. This ean,. Jas ar^.nU " h 
almost military ,.ree>s,on; alon.^r the beaeh. above hijrh-wat.M- muk 
w.th thetr sterns to the sea. were ranjre.l betwi-en sixtv an.l sevntv 
umiaks, turned with the bott.im upward and towar.l ihe i.rev.ilin- 
wind, lilted on one rail, the other beiufr supported on two stieks'.'iA to 
4 feet foug. Seventy-five yar.ls back from the umiaks, in a line par diel 
to the beaeh, were ranged over two Inmdred kaiaks. supported about 
three feet from the gnmud on low trestles made of braiieliin-.- stake. 
Below each kaiak, supported on a rest :; or 1 inches above tlu-n-ouu.l" 
was the set of spears, paddles, ete. belonging to the boat. The"kaiaks 
were all of the long, slender 
pattern comniou at Kotze- 
bue sound, and were ranged 
parallel to each other, point- 
ing toward the sea. in a line 
with the umiaks. Fifty 
yards baek from the l^aiaks. 
and ranged in a line i)aral]el 
with them, were the eonieal 
lodges occupied by the i)eo- 
ple; they were framed by 
slender poles standing in a 
circle, with the upper ends 
meeting and held in iilace 

by a strong wooden hoop i-iri.M.-Fr..„,„.r.,r"^,„„e7i^„i,.,. ii..tiu.n, ini.-i. 

lashed to the poles with 

rawhide cord midway between the ground and tlie top. The aceoni. 
panying sketch (figure 89) shows the manner of arranging Ihel'rainework. 

Tlie frames were about 10 feet high and from IL' to l-"> feet in diam- 
eter at the base; they were covered with untanned winter deerskins 
sewed into squares containing about six deerskins, wliieh were thrown 
over the framework with the hair outward. Several of these sipiares 
were necessary for each lodge. In some (;ases tlie deerskins were cov- 
ered with a laige sheet of drilling or calico, as shown in plate lxxmii//. 
Behind the lodges were stakes to which each family had tied its dogs, 
fastened so as to be just out of reach of each other. 

This was a summer trading camp of these people, and contained 
from six to eight hundred i)ersoiis. Figure !)(» shows the plan of the 
eiieampment. 

In size and methodical arrangement this camp iireseiited a very 
striking appearance and was the only one I ever saw in whicli the 




262 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.18 

Eskimo had followed a deliberate plan. The large iiuiiiher of boats, 
and the necessity for having cleai' space to enable each crew to lauuck 
without interfering with its neighbors, must have brought about this 
plan, which could not have been improved, as the entire camp could 
embark and ])addlc to a tradin,g vessel in less than five minutes. 



/ \ 



This was a terapt)rary camp which is located here for a few weeks 
each summer for the purpose of trading with vessels which cruise in 
these waters, as well as for meeting and trading with the people from 
both shores of Bering strait. 

At Point Hope, Just north of Kotzebue sound, was found a large 
Eskimo village, containing between thi-ee hundred and four hundred peo- 
ple, living in conical summer lodges. The winter village of semi-subter- 
ranean houses was on the outer edge of the cape, the summer village 

being nearer the mainland. 

Near Cape Thompson was 
found a small party of peo- 
ple, from Point Hope, who 
were on their way up the 
coast and were waiting here 
for better weather. They 
were living in conical lodges 
covered with a patchwork 
of sealskins sewed together. 
~ The entrance to each lodge 
was through a square hole 
in one side, about two feet 
from the ground, as shown 
in the accompanying illus- 
tration (figure itl). 
At ('ape Lisbirrne was found another camp of Point Hope people on 
their way noithward Two photographs of this camp were obtained, 
from one of which plate Lxxxv was drawn. This camp had the usual 
conical lodges, some of them being round-topped like those seeu at 
Cape Espenberg. 




Tbomp.- 



''^'-"™' sr>[MF,i{ cAMi'.s— KriNs 263 

Just north of Caite l.isburno ll,r..e or lour winter houses were seen 
but It could not be deteriniii.-d whetlier tlicy were oe.upied ' 

Near Icy cape were several suuuner .an.ps of Point Harrow people 
They were living in conical lo.ljjes, many of whi.h were ....vered with 
canvas taken from wrecked whaling vess.-ls. In front of ea.^h camp 
was erected a stout post from 12 to 20 fret hi-h. notched on the si.les 
for convenience in climbing. Near the top was a crossbar, ns.-d as •, 
seat or perch. The coast in this part of the district is very Hat anil 
low, and these i)Osts are used as lookout poiids whence (he iK'oj.le are 
able to see the '• blowing" of whales or the approach of ships. As we 
passed by the shore each post was usually oc.iiiiied by a man who 
waved his shirt to induce us to stop. 

From here to I'oiTit Barrow were several similar summer camps of 
from two to ten lodges each. At Point Harrow tlic winter houses were 
of the ordinary half underground type with a long, tunnel like entrance 
way; scarcity of driftwood had necessitated the use of whale ribs and 
jawbones in framing these houses. At this jioint the storehouses for 
meat were built very nearly in the style of the winter houses, except 
that the only entrance was by a trajxloor in the roof, so that they 
were really halfundergrounil cellars. 

Near the winter houses were idatforms (i to S feet above the ground, 
on which were stored spears, nets, and various hunting and household 
parai)hernalia. At the titne of our visit in August tlic inhabitants 
were living in conical lodges. 

Ill IXS 

Ruins of ancient Eskimo villages are (roTiimou on the lower Yukon and 
thence along the coast line to I'oint Barrow. On the Siberian shore 
they were seen from I'^ast cape along the Arctic coast to Cape \Vaid<a- 
rem. Various circumstances prevented the recording of more than a 
few superflcial notes in regard to them, which are here inserted for the 
purpose of bringing them to the attention of future workers in that 
region. On the shore of the bay on the southern side of St Michael 
island I dug into an old village site where sauccr-siia])e i)its indicated 
the places formerly occupied by houses. The village had been burned, 
as was evident from the numerous fragments of charred timbers mixed 
with tlie soil. In the few cubic feet of earth turned u|) at this place 
were found a slate fisli knife, an ivory spearhead, a doll, and a toy dish, 
the latter two cut from bark. Tiie men 1 had with me from the village 
at St Michael became so alarmed by their su])crstitious feelings that 
1 was obliged to give up the idea of getting further aid from them in 
this place. I learned afterward tliat this village had been built by 
people from Pastolik, at the mouth of the Yukon, avIio went there to 
tish and to hunt seals before the Russians came to the country. 

On the highest point of Whale island, wliich is a steep islet just off- 
shore near the present villag(; of St 31ichacl, were the ruins of a 



264 THE KSKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth. a.nn-. 18 

kashim and of several houses. The St Michael people told me that this 
place was destroyed, long before the Eussians came, by a war party from 
below the Yukon mouth. The sea has encroached upon the islet until 
a portion of the land formerly occupied by the village has been washed 
away. The permanently frozen soil at this place stopped us at the 
deptli of about two feet. Here, and at another ancient Unalit village 
site which was examined superficially, we found specimens of bone and 
ivory carvings which were very ancient, as many of them crumbled to 
pieces on being exposed. 

Along the lower Yukon are many indications of villages destroyed 
by war ])arties. According to the old men these parties came from 
Askinuk and Kushunuk, near the Kuskokwim, as there was almost 
constant warfare between the people of these two sections before the 
advent of the Eussians. 

•Both the fur traders and the Eskimo claim that there are a large 
number of house sites on the left bank of the Yukon, a few miles below 
Ikogmut. This is the village that the Yukon Eskimo say had 35 
kashims, and there are many tales rehiting to the period when it was 
occupied. At the time of my Yukon trips this site was heavily cov- 
ered with snow, and I could not see it; but it would undoubtedly well 
repay thorough excavation during the summer months. One of the 
traditions is that this village was built by people from Bristol bay, 
joined by others from Xunivak island and Kushunuk. One informant 
said that a portion of this village was occupied up to 1S48, when the 
last inhabitants died of smallpox, but whether or not this is true I was 
unable to learn. 

Another informant told me that near the entrance of Goodnews bay, 
near the mouth of the Kuskokwim, there is a circular pit about 75 feet 
in diameter, marking the former site of a very large kashim. A few 
miles south of Shaktolik, near the head of Norton sound, I learned of the 
existence of a large village site. Both the Eskimo and the fur traders 
who told me of this said that the houses had been those of Shaktolik 
people, and that some of them must have been connected by under- 
ground jiassageways, judging from the ditch like depressions from one 
to the other along the surface of the ground. The Shaktolik men who 
told me this said that there were many other old village sites about 
there and that they were once inhabited by a race of very small people 
who have all disappeared. 

From the Malemut of Kotzebue sound and adjacent region I learned 
that there are many old village sites in that district. Many of these 
places were destroyed by war parties of Tinne from the interior, accord- 
ing to the traditions of the present inhabitants. 

On Elephant point, at the head of Kotzebue sound, 1 saw the site of 
an old village, with about fifteen pits marking the locations of the 
houses. The pits sloped toward the center and showed by their out- 
lines that the houses had been small and roughly circular, with a short 



NELSON] 



lU'IN.S AT fAI'r; WANKAHKM 



2(;5 



pa^aseway leading int., tbe.n. the entiro s,™..,,,. l.avinsr W-.u ,,„,„. 

Tl>e Eskimo ..f I^.st .a„e. Siberia, said that ,l,e,e Mm. ,na„v old 
village sites alonj^ tl,,. ,.oast in tl.at vi.-inity. These l,o,.s,.s h„l \u2 
foundations ,nany of which are still in phice. There is a hir.; ruined 
vilhi-e ot this kind n.'ar the one still occupied on the c ii.e ' 

On the extreme point of Cape Wankareni, and at it^^^atest eleva- 
tion, just above the i«iosent camp of the reindeer Chukchi •. series of 
three sites of old Eskimo villa-es «ere fouiul. The accoinpanvin- 
sketch map of the ca])e shows the relative sites of tliese villa 'res 'and 
also indicates anotlier fai^t which may .uive a slight clew to tb"e age of 
oue of them. 




Fui. 112— Sites of . 



ill iji s al ( ,i|.f \\ aukariiii, Sihtria. 



Number 1 is the site of a village which at jiresent contains the ruins 
of three houses; other houses have evidently been wasiied away by the 
eucroaidimentof the sea. These three houses are of mound shape, with 
a pit or de])ression in the middle, and a trench-like dejjression lead- 
ing out from each of them toward the sea shows the ])osition of the 
entrance jiassage. Numerous ribs and Jawbones of whales lie scattered 
about, and the decaying end of a whale's Jawbone, projecting through 
the top of one of the mounds, shows the material used in framing them. 

Number 2 represents a series of live similar house sites, facing the 
dotted area on the sketch map; and at number .'> is indicated still 
another series of ten house sites like the iirecediiig, all un(iuestioiiably 
of Eskimo origin. 

Number i is the site of the pieseiit Chukchi camii. consisting of skin 
lodges, as we found it at the time of our visit. No recent whale bones 



266 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING 8TRAIT [eth.ann.18 

were seen about tbe Oliukclii camp, but there were many vertebne and 
otlier bones gathered from the ruins of the Eskimo houses. A man 
was seen digging up a whale's Jawbone from one of the okl house sites, 
and there were evidences tliat many others had been removed in the 
same manner by the present inhabitants. 

During repeated visits made to these ruins I was impressed by 
several circumstances which may serve to shed light on their age, as 
shown by the following observations: 

A'illages 1 and 2 are on a high knoll which rises like an island from 
the low, flat shore, the sides sloping down to the narrow, pebble-cov- 
ered neck of land (at 7) which separates a lagoon on one side from the 
oi)en sea on the other. aSTumber 4 is on higher ground than the neck at 
number 7, and is made up of sand and gravel. Number 5 is the present 
seashore or water line. Xumber is a well-marked ancient water line, 
close to the edge of which was built the village marked 3. There is 
a gravelly beach between the present and former water lines. Number 
7 is a pebble-covered beach, probably two feet above extreme high water 
line at jiresent. 

It will be noticed that nund)er 13 fronts directly upon 7 and is located 
exactly as an Eskimo village would be placed if 7 were an open chan- 
nel. The western Eskimo have an almost invariable custom of build- 
ing their villages facing the water and parallel with the shore line. I 
think it may safely be stated that none of these people ever placed a 
village site in the relation to the sea that the site of number 2 now bears, 
and it conse(juently follows, almost as a demonstrated fact, that village 
nuud)er 2 was built and occu])ied when 7 was an open waterway, sepa- 
rating the high knoll of Ga])e Wankareni from the mainland and thus 
forming it into an island. 

I think number 2 marks the most ancient of the villages, for number 
3 is so i)laced in regard to the ancient beach (G) that it could not have 
been safely inhabited until the sea came to occupy nearly its present 
water line. 1 should conclude that the land had been raised about 
three feet from its ancient level at the time the water line stood at 6, 
when village number 3 was occujiied. The gradual upraising of the 
coast nmst have made village number 2 untenable and caused the 
peojile to change to number 3, that and number 1 jirobably being the 
last villages occupied by the Eskimo, who had disappeared from this 
part of the coast before the historical period. 

Tlie severity of the Arctic climate on this bleak coast renders it very 
difficult, if not impossible, to make an estimateof any value (basing cal- 
culations upon the decay of perishable articles) as to the length of time 
that has elapsed since an ancient site was occupied. If data were at 
hand to estinuite the rate of the rise of the laud on the northwestern 
Alaska and Siberian coasts, we would have a key to the approxinmte 
age of villages 2 and 3 at Cape AN'ankarem, and i)robably to the age of 
numerous other settlements along tbe same shore. 



'"='-*""'l -MEAT AM) KISH C1-KIN(; 2(;7 

FOOD 

Boiit- a race of Imntors ainl lisI,(.n.H-n ll„.|oo,l s„p,,lv ..f tl,.' Eskimo 
IS essentially composed of oa,,,,. ami lisli. ^^■Uu■h air' pn-pir,.,! in i 
variety of ways. JJ„t little attention is paid to rleanliness in ti,e 
preparation of food amon- these people. The llesh of reindeer nionn 
tain sheep, bears, seals, walrns and other larjre -ame are n.mnioniv 
boiled in sea water to nive it a salty llavor. 

Jleat is freuuently kept for a considerable len-tli of time and .some- 
times until it beeomes semijjntrid. At Point Harrow, in the middle of 
Angn.st, I8S1. the people still had the eareasses of deer wiii.h had been 
killed the preceding winter and spring. Tiiis meat was kept in small 
underground pits, whi.di the frozen snbsoil rendered cold, bnl not etihl 
enough to prevent a bluish fnngiis growth which eomi)lelely covered 
the earcas.ses of the animals and the walls of the storero s. 

Meat killed in summer is often tlried. as are also the various kinds of 
salmon, which are split down to the base of the tail and hung on wooden 
frames until dry. TIk- smaller species of salmon, known as dog salmon, 
ai-e tied iu buuches of twenty when dry and i)laeed in stnrehouses for 
future use. 

The large tlakes of dried king salmon are usually packed away in 
bales or bundle.s. Toineod, scnlpin, and whitelish also are dried, the 
smaller species, such as tomcod and .senli)in, being hung upon strings. 
The roe of herring is gathered on the seaweed during spawning time 
and some of this is dried and preserved for winter u.se, when it is boiled 
aiul eaten with great relish. 

On the lower Kuskokwim and thence ti> the Yukon the people try 
out the oil from a species of whitelish found there and sttu-e in bags 
for winter use the clear white fat thus obtained. 

Fish are boiled and .sometimes are roasted over an open tire as is 
freijuently done with meat, but boiling is the usual method of prepar- 
ing both tish and meat. Fish taken in winter are nsindly placed in 
gras.s bags and kept frozen until re(]uired, when they are eaten raw, 
while still frozen, or are boiled. Crabs, mussels, ami ascidiansare boiled. 

In the district between the Yukon and the Kuskokwim, the heads of 
king salmon, taken iu summer, are placed in small i)its in the ground 
surrounded by strawand covered with tnrf. They are kej)! there during 
summer and iu the aiitninn have decayed until even the bimes have 
become of the same consistency as the general mas.s. They are then 
taken out and kiu'aded in a wooden tray until they form a pasty com- 
lioniid and are eaten as a favorite dish by some of the i)eo|)le. The 
odcir of this mess is almost unendurable to one not accustomed to it, 
and is even too strong for the stomachs of many of the Kskiino. 

The back fat of the reindeer is cut into small pieces and chewed by 
the women until it becomes a i)asty mass, which is ]int into a wooden 
dish. When enough of this has been prepareii, a ipiantity of snow and 



2G8 THE ESKIMO AHOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

some salmon or cranberries are mixed witli it and tbe tvIio e is kneaded 
nntil it becomes a liotnofjeneons mass. This componnd is regarded as 
tie greatest delicacy that can be served to gnests and at feasts. 

Tlie blubber of seals, walrus, or whales is stored and often eaten in 
its natural form; or the oil may be tried out and stored in bags and 
used for food as well as for burning in lamps. When used as food it 
is phu'cd in a small wooden tray or dish and the people dip their dried 
iish or other meat into it. The oil is never drunk by them except when 
desiring to take it as a purgative; at such times a large draft of seal 
oil is usually effective. 

The oil obtained from whitefish is regarded as a great delicacy when 
eaten with dried salmon. Walrus flippers and the skin of the white 
whale are also among the choice bits of the Eskimo larder. The blood 
of seals or other large game is made into a stew called kai-n'-shul: The 
soup of bt)iled meat is called mi-chu'-d and is greatly relished. 

On tlie mainland it is customary for the women to go out every spring 
and search the marshes for the eggs of wild fowl which breed there. 
U](on the islands waterfowl are caught and their eggs taken from the 
clilfs facing the sea, and many geese and ducks are speared or netted 
while molting at the end of the breeding season. 

In autumn the women gather a large supply of blaeberries, heath 
berries, salmon berries, and cranberries, which they store for winter 
use. At this season is also gathered a kind of wild sorrel, which is 
boiled and crushed with a pestle and then put into a wooden tub or 
barrel and covered with water, where it is left to ferment in the sun. 
This makes a very pleasant acid relish, which is added to various dishes 
in the winter and is called hn-pa'-tuli. Young willow leaves are also 
boiled and eaten. 

The women also gather the bulbous roots of a species of grass, which 
are either boiled or eaten raw ; they have a sweetish, nutty flavor. They 
also search for the little stores of these roots which have been gathered 
by field mice. They feel around among the grass-covered knolls with 
a long-handle staff until a soft spot is found, showing the location of 
the hidden store, which they quickly transfer to their baskets. 

All the Eskimo are forced by the harsh nature of their climatic sur- 
roundings to provide a supply of food for winter, but they are careless 
and improvident in many ways. They frequently consume nearly all of 
their stores during midwinter festivals and live in semi-starvation 
throughout the early spring. 

The seal nets set out in the foil are of the utmost importance to the 
natives, as they depend upon the catch ot seals at this time for food 
and for a sui)]>ly of oil tor their lamps and other purposes, as well as 
the skins for buying necessary articles from the traders. 

Just before the netting season, one of my paddle men, an unusually 
industrious hunter, found that there was some whisky in a village 
where we stopped. Before I knew it he had traded off his OTily seal 
net for enough whisky to make himself intoxicated, in which condition 



>-Ei-soNl FAMiXK OX ST LAWKKMK ISLAM) 26'J 

Le iuiniediiitely pnu-ccded to i.hico liiinsclf. Tl.e n-sult was that lie ami 
his laiiuly were very short oC food dmiiii;- tiic tbllowiii.;- winter. 

The terribU" fan. ine and aco.iupaiiyi]]- diseasi> which caused thi'death 
of over a thousand peopU^ on Sr l.awn-nee island dnriu,;,- the wniter of 
1879 and ISSO was said to have been caused by the use of wliisky. 
The i)eople of that ishmd usually obtained their supply of foo.l for the 
winter by killuiji walrus from the threat herds of these animals that mt 
through Bering strait on the first ice In the fall. The walrus remain 
about the island only a few days and then go south, when the ice clo.ses 
about and shuts the island in till spring. 

Just before the time for the walrus to reach the island that season, 
the Eskimo obtained a supi)ly of whisky from some vessels and began 
a prolonged debauch, which ended only when the supiily was exhausted. 
When this occurred the annual migration of the walrus had passed, 
and the people were shut in for the winter by the ice. The result was 
that over two-thirds of the population died before spring. The follow- 
ing si)ring, when the Conrin visited the islamls, some of the survivors 
came ou board bringitig a few articles for trade. They wished only to 
liurchase ritle cartridges and more whisky. 

During July, 1881, the Conrin made a visit to this famine stricken 
district, where the miserable survivors were seen. Only a single dog 
was left among them, the others having been eaten by the starving 
people. Two of the largest villages were entirely depopulated. 

In July I lauded at a phu^e on the northern shore where two houses 
were standing, in which, wrapped in their fur blankets on the sleei)ing 
platforms, lay about -'t dead bodies of adults, and ui)on the ground 
and outside were a lew others. Some miles to the eastward, along the 
coast, was another village, where tlicre were L'OO dead people. In a 
large house were found about !."» bodies placed one upon another like 
cordwood at one end of the room, while as many others lay dead in 
their blankets on the platforms. 

In the houses all the wooden and clay food vessels were found turned 
bottom upward and put away m one corner— mute evidences of the 
famine. Scattered about the houses on the outside were various tools 
and imi)lements, clay pots, wooden dishes, trays, guns, knives, axes,^ 
amuinuition, and empty bottles; among these articles were the skulls of 
walrus and of many dogs. The bodies of the people were found every- 
where in the village as well as scattered along in a line toward the 
graveyard for half a mile inhiud. 

The first to die liad been taken farthest away, and usually placed 
at full length beside the sled that had carried the bodies. .Scattered 
about such bodies lay the tools and implements belonging to the dead. 
In one instance a body lay outstretched upon a sled, while behind it, 
proue upon his face, with arms outstretched and almost t<.uchiiig the 
sled runners, lay the body of a man who had died while pushing the 
sled bearing the body of his friend or relative. 

Others were found lying m the underground passageways to the 



270 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

houses, and oue body was found halfway out of the entrance. Most of 
the bodies lying about the villages had evidently been dragged there 
and left wherever it was most eonvenieut by the living during the later 
period ol' tlie famine. The total absence of the bodies of (ihildreu in 
those villages gave rise to the suspicion that they had been eaten by the 
adults; but possibly this may not have been the case. The strongest 
evidence in this regard, however, was in one village where there were 
over two hundred dead adults, and although 1 looked carefully for the 
bodies of children, none could be found; yet there was no positive evi- 
dence that cannibalism had been practiced by the natives. That this 
custom sometimes prevailed, however, in ancient times, during famines, 
I learned from the Unalit; nevertheless they openly expressed their 
abhorrence of the practice. 

On the bluff at the northwest ])oint of this island we found a couple 
of surviving families living in round top, walrus-hide summer houses. 
At the foot of the bill not far from their present camping jilace was a 
winter village, where about 100 i)eople lay dead; the bodies were scat- 
tered about outside or were lying in their blankets in the houses, as we 
had seen them in other places. 

The two families living there consisted of about a dozen people; the 
adults seemed very much depressed and had little animation. Among 
them were two bright little girls, who had the usual childish careless- 
ness, and kept near us while we were on shore. When 1 shot a snow 
bunting near the village they called to me and ran to show me its nest 
on the hillside. 

When I asked one of the inhabitants what had become of the people 
who formerly lived on that jtart of the island, he waved his hand toward 
the winter village, saying, "All viucky hkr'A//," being the Jargon term 
for "dead."' 

I tried to obtain a photograph of the women and little girls, and for 
that purpose placed them in position and focused the camera. While 
I was waiting tor a lull in the wind to take the picture, the husband of 
one of the women came up and asked in a listless, inatter-of fact tone, 
"All )iiitckij now?" meaning, "Will they all die now!" He evidently 
took it for granted that my camera was a conjuring box, which would 
complete tlie work of the famine, yet he seemed perfectly indifterent to 
the consequences. 

A curious trait noticed among these survivors was their apparent 
loss of the customary fear which the natives usually show when near a 
spot where many persons have died. The death of all their friends 
and relatives seemed to have rendered them apathetic and beyond the 
influence of ordinary fear of that kind. The two families mentioned 
were cami)ed on the hill just above the village full of dead bodies, and 
whenever they went down to the shore to launch their umiak they were 
forced to pass close to the dead, yet they seemed oblivious to their 
gruesome surroundings. 



IREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOL' 




'jy^ |g[ isijii 




TOBACCO AND SNUFF BOXES AND SNUFF-MAKING IMPLEMENTS uml-fh 



MODK OK Pin:r-Aiii\(: tobacco 



TOlS.VfCO AM) S>[(»KIX(; 

METHODS OK CSIM; TnltACCO 

Tol.ac..., was first intn>,ln,.i.,i ainong tl,. Alaskan l^skinio iVo.n Asia 
by way ..I l.tMiii- strait, by tlidr Siij,.riai. i.ei-l,l„„s, an.l ],v the s.„„e 
route came the pipes wit), .'ylindiical h„wis utul wi.je rinis,' similar to 
those used in <'astcrii Asia. 

Tobacco is nse.l in ditlcreiit l„rins l,y hot), sexes; tl,c vv„in..|. us„.,1Iv 
chew It or take it in the form of snuli; hnt rarely smoke if the meii 
use It m all these ways. The tobacco now used bv these people is 
obtained from the traders, and is usually in the tbriii of the natural leaf, 
tied in small bunches called "hands." ' 

For chewiuj;-, the tol)acco is cut into shreds on small Imards which 
are usually merely plain tablets from a tew inches to a loot or more 
iu diameter, but they 
are sometinu ^ m na 
mented with 111 iiu i^ed 
pattern. ^\ h i n tin 
tobacco has bn n i nt 
sufticieiitly fim it is 
mixed with aslu s oi) 
taiued from ti( t bin 
gus and kneaded and 
rolled into loiindtd 
pellets or qunls otten 
being chewed i little 
by the women in oidei 
to iucorpoi atL the 
ashes more fhoiough 
ly. The tret tungus 
from which the a^la s 
are made forms a regular article of trade with the Tinne of the inte- 
rior, who bring it to the coast every summer and sell it to the Hskimo. 
Figure It.'! represents a specimen of this tree fungus, which was obtained 
at St Michael from a trading jiarty of the Viikon Tinne. figure US 
illustrates one of the tobacco boards. 

It is common when tiaveling among these people to sec the women 
engaged in cutting up tobacco, kneading it with ashes, or chewing it 
into (piids in order to supply their husbands or other male ichitives 
with a stock for use on the ensuing day. From four to eight of the 
pellets are prei)ared atone time; these are packed in little bo.xes ready 
lor use. 

The men do not usually chew the (piids. but hold them in the cheek, 

and rarely expectorate the juice. After holding a quid in his i ith 

for some time, if the chewer wishes to rest, eat, or drink, he takes it 
out, and after rolling it into a little ball, places it behind his right ear, 
where it remains until again needed. 




272 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ethann. 18 

In addition to the usual tobacco mixed with fungus ashes these 
])eoi)le are also fond of using the nicotine that accumulates in their 
pipestems. At intervals every sniolcer opens his pipestem and care- 
fully removes the oily mass of tobacco extract, which he places with 
his chewing tobacco: a i^ortion of this is combined with the quid and 
adds greatly to his enjoyment, owing to its strong narcotic indueuce. 
I have frequently seen them place this material in their mouths almost 
undiluted and in quantity that appeared sufticient to cause the indi- 
viduafs death, yet apparently wifhout producing the least nausea or 
other ill effect. 

tjome of the writers on the Eskimo have claimed that they eat this 
concentrated tobacco, but I think this a mistake, as I frequently saw 
them placing it in their mouths and holding it there in the same man- 
ner that they did ordinary (juids. 

For smoking the tobacco is cut very fine, then a little tult of fur is 
plucked from the clothing and wadded at tlie bottom of the narrow, 
cylindrical bowl of the pipe, and the tobacco is placed on top of this 
until the bowl is full. A small fragment of tinder is then lighted with 
flint and steel and placed on the tobacco. The smoker gives two or 
three short, sharp draws, which thoroughly ignite the tinder and 
tobacco, and then draws the smoke into his lungs by a long, deep 
inhalation, which consumes all the tobacco contained in the pipe. 
After retaining the smoke as long as possible it is exhaled, and the 
smoker puts away the pipe. 

For making suufl' the tobacco is finely shredded, and is then thor- 
oughly dried, after which it is pounded in a small wooden mortar with 
a wooden pestle until reduced to powder. These mortars are gener- 
ally more or less goblet-shape, although I obtained one specimen from 
the lower Yukon, shown in plate Lxxxvi, 30, which is like a small 
wooden dipper, with a hole near the end of the handle for suspending 
it. Another typical example of these mortars (plate LXXSV, 28) was 
obtained at Itazbinsky. The pestles usnally consist of sticks from an 
inch to an inch and a half in diameter, rounded at the lower end, and 
from 10 to 15 inches in length. A good specimen of these implements, 
from Kigiktauik, is shown in figure l!7. 

After the tobacco has been reduced to i)owder it is sifted, to remove 
the coarser particles, until it is finally of the fineness required. For 
this purpose there are used small sieves, similar to the specimen from 
llazbiusky (figure 20), which are made by cutting out a cylinder of 
wood about two inches long, and fastening over one end a cover of 
l»archment made from some thin skin or from the intestine of some 
animal, which is punctured with numerous small holes, and the edges 
bound to the cylinder by a sinew cord wrapped around a groove in the 
border. The sieve frames are sometimes made from bark, and one 
such specimen collected on the lower Yukon has the sieve made from 
a piece of coarse sacking. 



SNljrK-l;()\i;s KKSciMliKD 273 



<<i) IMPI.KMKM: 
^M 1 I -Hum;-. 



The simrt' is kept in neatly made boxes, ami is use.l l.v plaeiii- one 
end of a tube (made fn.m tiie win-bone ..la j;,m,s.. „r „tliei- wateiMowl) 
siifcessively in eaeli of the nostrils and inlialinf; vi-oi„uslv Inau tl.e 
snutt'-box in wiiieli tlie other end of tlie tiilx- is placed. 

The boxes used for eontaiiiin- snulV vary -leatly in fonii. many of 
them .siiowin.u- reniarkal)U- sicill in earvins;- and in^^enaity in coneeplion 
of tlie designs. 

A sniitt-box from Kii;iktauik (nund)er .■!.!()74) is form.'d of a band of 
bone bent into a cirele and riveted at the ends by ])ieees of iron; this 
serves as a foundation on wliieli is titled a top and a bottom in the form 
of truncated eones, the toji havinj;- a round hole in the eenter, capjied 
with a wooden cover. The band of bone lias a few circles and dots 
etched on its surlace. 

A circular wooden snull'box from Kaialigamnt (tigure l'((. plate 
LXXXVI) is slightly narrower at the top and is beveled inward from 
the rim both above and below to the convex top and bottom: the 
cover has a projecting arm, extending slightly beyond the edge of the 
box, by whieii it can be raised. In lioth top and bottom are set live 
small ivory pegs with broad heads. The box is jjainted black. excei)t 
the beveled edge of the rim above and below and the lever like handle 
ou the (!over, which are red. Another siiecimeii, brought from >>'ortoii 
sound. IS shaped similarly to the iireceding. but has four grooves around 
the outside, forming bead-like ridges, the U|)i)er and lower ones being 
the largest. 

The siiuti'-box from Anogogmnf (tigiire 21. j)late LXXXVI) is somewhat 
similar to the above-described specimen trom Ivigiktaiiik. but the top 
and the bottom are carved in relief to rejiresent a human face surrounded 
by a beveled ridge; two beads are inlaid to represent labiets, and the 
mouth and the eyes are indicated by inlaid jiieces of ivory. A series of 
beads is set in a groove around the middle of the box. which is painted 
red. 

An oval wooden box from Kushunuk (tigiire 11. jjlate LXXXVi) forms 
a sharp angle at each end; the top and bottom are slightly convex. 
The sides are i)ainted with alternate stripes of black and red: ou the 
top the red is rei>laced by dull blue, the bottom also being of that 
color. A loop of sealskin cord three and a half inches long forms a 
handle on the cover. 

Another oval box, obtained at St Michael (lignre li. plaie LXXXVI) 
has the sides made of leather covered with black whalebone, the ends 
of which are notched and interlocked. The top and b..ttom are of wood 
neatly fitted. To the center of the top is fastened a stout rawhide cord 
about three inches long, which has attached to its end a small tube lor 
inhaling snuff. 

IS ETU 18 



274 thp: eskimo about bering strait 



A curious box from OlialitTnut (ligare l."), plate Lxxxvi) is oviil in 
slia])!' aii<l is out from a single piece of wood. Tlie oval cover is set 
in one side and lias a rawhide handle. On the sides, carved in strong 
relief, are two grotesiiue, se:il-like animals facing each other. The 
bodies are painted red and the intervening area black. The entire 
surface of the box is marked with crescent-shape incisions and studded 
with white beads of different sizes. 

A box from the lower Yukon (figure 13, plate lxxxvi) represents a 
large seal upon its back with the head and the tail npraised and a smaller 
seal lying upon it, this latter forming the cover. This is a well-made 
carving in strong relief, witli numerous small ivory pegs and white 
beads set about the surface. Around the neck of each seal is fastened 
a flattened piece of bird (juill. The seals are represented with open 
mouths and beails form the eyes. 

The small stjuare box from Nnnivak island (figure 3, plate lxxxvi) 
is made of ivory, with the top and bottom of separate pieces fastened 
by pegs. Across the top three strips of brass are inlaid, and the small 
wooden lid has a loop of rawhide for a handle. The sides of the box 
are etched with two parallel lines connecting a series of circles and 
dots. 

A square wooden box from jSrulukhtulognmut (figui-e 2, ])late lxxxvi) 
has the bottom neatly fitted and a small, S(|uare lid near one end with 
a loop of sinew for a handle; around the sides and the top, passing over 
the middle in both directions, narrow strips of ivory are inlaid. The 
bottom of the box, the sides of the top, and the end farthest from the 
lid are painted red; the remainder is black. 

A round-cornered box from King island (figure 1, plate Lxxxvi) has 
square pieces of lead and b(nie inlaid around the sides and the top. In 
the top are two circular pieces of white bone, and white beads are 
inserted over the snrfaee, except on the bottom. The lid is a thin 
piece of wood which slides in a groove and has a projecting thumb- 
piece at one end. A box very similar to this was obtained on Nnni- 
vak island; its surface is inlaid with strips and squares of brass and 
numerous white beads. 

Another box from Nnnivak island (figure 4, plate lxxxvi) is of wood 
heavily inlaid with cross-bands of brass. The lid, which is inlaid in 
the same manner, consists of a small, square, wooden cap fitted into 
the beveled edges of a small hole in the center of the top. 

All oval box from Kushunuk (Hgure 5, plate lxxxvi) is made of 
birch-bark which is bent and the overlapping ends cut and interlaced. 
The top and the bottom are fitted with wooden sto])i)ers, the npj)er one 
having a strip of beaver skin for a handle. Another box from Kushu- 
nuk (ligure 7, plate lxxxvi) is of wood, oval in outline. The bottom 
and the cover are pointed oval in form, and the latter has a projecting 
thumb-piece at one end. It is painted black and jiieces of white crock- 
ery are inlaid in regular series over the surface. 



NE,.soM sNi-Ki--Ti-ni:s— ,.TX(;rs-As.t hoxks 275 

A lai-o ivoiy siuilVbox n„in Nnl.viukh.-lmj^aluU (ii..uro •'.: ..I-.tr 
Lxxxvi) ,s neatly niad.' IV,.,,, a hoUowod-.M.t (•n.ss s,...|io„ ,.|- a u ,ln.s 
tnsk. The top aii.l tlie lu.itoin are of wood and tl.e surfare i.s "r.M.ved 
lioiizoutally and vertieally. " 

SNTFl'-.TniES 

For takin- snud' from tlie boxes, tubes made from the holh.w win- 
bones of -eese and other water fowl are used: thev are tn.nealed at 
both ends, and vary in leiii^th from ;!} to r,.\ inches. Fre(,nenlly they 
are attached to the cover of the snntfbox by a rawhide cord, but'son.e- 
times they arc eanied separately. They are in -en.'ral use from the 
Kuskokwim northward to Kotzebue sound, and the method of usinff 
them is the same as i)revionsly described. 

The surface of these implements is sometimes jdain, as in the speci- 
men shown in plate xc, 1, from Cape Nome, wiiicii lias merely a rude 
groove around the middle for the attachment of a cord. 

Another tube ((i,<>ure 2. plate xc) from Kusliunuk. is also plain, and 
has wound around it, near one end, several turns of a smooth rootlet, 
the eiuls beinj;- tucked under to bold it in place. The specimen from 
Auo.uoi'mut (ligure 4, plate xc) is likewise plain, but its ends are sliglitly 
reduced in size, and near the shoulder, around the tube, are three 
parallel incised lines. 

A tube from the lower Yukon (liuure .!, plati' xo) has the ends 
slightly reduced and the sides beveled to form eight faces. Another, 
from Kazbinsky (plate xc, 13), is encircled with smooth, parallel grooves 
exteudiug iu a regular series from end to end, i)roduciiig a scalloped 
surface, the intervening ridges being neatly rounded. The s])ecimen 
from Cape Vancouver (plate X(!, 11) is similar to this, but has an incised 
groove arouud the top of each ridge. 

Another tube (tigure o, plate xc) from Askinuk, has two broad 
grooves near each eud, with three incised lines around the bordeiing 
ridges. Another specimen from the same ])lace (tiyure b"), ]ilate xcj is 
handsomely etched with lines, circles, dots, and cross ])atterns, and has 
uumerous tridentate nuirks representing the raven totem. 

The specimens illustrated in figures t! and 12, plate xo, are fromChal 
itmut. 

Tubes variously oruameuted with etched lines aie shown in figure 
11, from the lower Yukon; lignre !>. frcnn Konigiunigunuit : ligiue Id. 
from Askinuk; tigure 7, from the lower Yukon, and ligure S. from Cape 
A'ancouver. 

ISOXKS I'OU FV.\(iUS ASIIKS 

For storing the wood fungus ashes, which are used with chewing 
tobacco, small boxes are made: these are usually rather tubular iu 
shape and are made from a (ionsiderablc variety of materials. .Vmong 
the large series obtaiiu^d are siiecimcns nmde frouj sections of reindeer 



276 THE KSKIMO Al'.OrX I'.EKING STRAIT (etii. an-.n. 18 

aiitliT liolloweil out ;iik1 tittcd with a cap of wood or antler at each 
(■11(1. Some are made from the butts of walrus tusks hollowed out aud 
lifted w ith covers, and others are of wood or bone. 

One of these boxes, from Hotham inlet (figure 7, jilate Lxxxvii), is 
made from a piece of walrus ivory aud shaped something- like the hoof 
of a reindeer. About its upper end is sewed a piece of cloth provided 
with a puckering string for closiug it. The surface is i)laiu, except for 
a series of circles and dots which extend around its upper border. 

A box from Golofuin bay (figure '), plate Lxxxvii) is made from the 
butt of a large walrus tusk, and has a wooden bottom held in jilace by 
wooden xiins set through holes drilled in the ivory. The sides of this 
box. which have been split, are repaired with small copper clamps and 
a sinew cord wound around the middle. The top is neatly made of 
walrus ivory, oval in outline, with a sunken shoulder to fit in the open- 
ing of the box. In the back are two holes through which a rawhide 
cord is pas.sed and tied; the cord then runs up through a hole in the 
edge of the cover and along a slot on the top, then down again near 
the front edge and through a hole just below the top of the box, from 
which hangs its free end. By the use of this simple contrivance the 
cover can be raised or closed without danger of dropping it. This 
device for the covers of these boxes is in comiiion use along the coast 
from the Yukon mouth to Kotzebue sound. 

A specimen from Hotham inlet (plate lxxxvii, 4) is made from a 
piece of reindeer antler and has a wooden bottom held in place by 
snugly fitting the outline of the box. The top is a simple wooden piece 
with a short rawhide cord, with a knot in its end, projecting from the 
middle of the upper surface, by which it can be lifted out. The box is 
oval in shape, and has incised lines in pairs around the outside, dividing 
it into four nearly eijual sections, in which are etched a variety of tig- 
nres, including birds, mammals, boats, sledges, trees, waterfowl, and 
people. The etching is deep and is rendered very distinct by having 
dark-reddish coloring matter rubbed into the incised lines. On one 
side is etched the raven totem, with a circle and dot just in front, simi- 
lar to the mark described as existing on a kashim cover at Kigiktauik, 
and undoubtedly intended to represent the same idea of the raven's 
tracks in the snow, with the mark left where it had eaten meat (see 
figure lH), page S'-io). 

Number <)41.S4 is a tall box of walrus ivory, fiatteuedoval in shape, 
also from Hotham inlet. Around the base on one side are etched the 
figures of six reindeer; on the other side is represented a house with 
an elevated cache and a man shooting at the hindmost of the deer. 
Around the upper border is carved a zigzag pattern, pendent from 
which is a series of raven totem marks. On another specimen of simi- 
lar shape, from liazbinsky, on the lower Yukon, each of the borders is 
ornamented with a zigzag pattern and with raven totem marks extend- 
ing thence toward the middle of the box. 



''^'••"■~'' FrN(;is-Asii lioxF.s 277 

AiK.tliw box fr„,n Ilotliani inlet (Monro s. ,,h,i,. iawmh i. mi,|.. 
from :i pieco of lein.lc.T antler, will, a kn.-l. on tl„. side, ami a wno.len 
lid whicL is held in position by a eord lastened on one sid,. ;,nd stnin.' 
thion-h boles in the .-over, as in the speeinien sliovvn in lignre :. .,|tlie 
same plate. The suilaee of the box is covered with ciicres and dots 
and has etehed aroun<l the middle a series of .•onieal sunini.T lod^-es. 

A Ions', i-ylindrieal specimen from Sledge island (li-;nre ".i.^iihite 
LXXXVli) has the siufaee carved in a series of scaIlo|)s and rid^r^s 
exteudiug aioiind it. The bottom is fastened with fonr wooden pilis. 
The box is provided with a wooden lid. 

A box from Nunivak island (lignre M. plate iaxwii is of reindeer 
antler, with a wooden loj) and bottom. In sli<;ht relief upon its sides 
are represented the fore and hitid lliiii)ers of a seal, with circle and dot 
l)atterns elsewhere alony the sides. 

Figure 12, plate LXXXVII, reinesents a box. from Kotzebne sound, 
made from a piece of whalebone. The bottom is formed of a rounded 
piece of the .same material. On the surface are etehed Ihe arms and the 
breast of a woman with a curious tishdike head; on the back a small, 
square iiieee of iron is inlaid. A specimen from Norton sound (nund)er 
33199) ha.s a zigzag border ])attern on both ends ami raven totem 
marks extending toward the nuddle. 

A vase-shape wooden box from Kaialigamut tigure 14. jilate 
LXXXVII) is four inches in height ami is very regular in outline. It has 
a llaring rim and a wooden cover: the sides are set with small, riuiiid, 
ivory pegs symmetrifally arranged, and around the rim are inserted four 
white beads. Another round wooden box (ligure 11. plate i.xxw ii i has 
a beveled eilge. like the chime of a barrel, and the bottom is neatly 
inserted. In the center of the lid is set a piece of wood, con\ex in out- 
line, on which is carved in ridiel' a grotesipte face inteiuled to represent 
some mythological being. The eyes are formed by ivory pegs with large 
heads, and the sides of the box arc ornamented with similar pegs, as well 
as with long. triaiigulari>iecesof ivory neatly inlaid near the ni>per edge, 
with the smaller ends ])ointing downward. The box is ])ainted lilack 
around the sides, with a red border, and a black circle surrounds the 
cover. The lace on the cover has a red forehead, a broad black banil 
across the eyes, a red baiul across the mouth and cheeks, and a black 
chin. From each corner of the mouth extends a stout rawhide cord 
about four inches in length, which .serves as a handle for raising the 
cover. 

An oval wooden box, from the country south of the Yukon mouth. 
Las a groove incised arouiul its border in two directions. The toj) and 
the bottom are made of thin iiieces of wood set into holes cut paiallel 
to the sides of the box. The surface is inlaid in .symmetrical i)atterns 
with small s(|uare, triangular, and round pu'ces of white crockery. 

A square wooden box from Kushunuk (ligure 13. ])la1e lxxxvii) has 
the corners beveled and .scored with a deep, vertical groove: another 



27S THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (eth.ann. 18 

groove enoirt-les tlie bottom of tbe box, wbich also has a circular groove 
on the ceuter. The neatly fitted cover is a tliin piece of wood, with an 
incised circle about tlie middle and a projecting thumb i)iece which fits 
ui)(iii beveled shoulders on the rim at one side. 

A round wooden box from the lower A'ukon (figure 0, plate Lxxx'vii) 
is a little less than 5 inches in heiglit and 2 inches in dnimeter. It has 
a deep incision around the base, with a flaring, rim like bottom. The 
cover is fitted, like a stopper, into tlie top, and is incised to form a flar- 
ing rim; it has a knob on the top. 

Another round box from the Yukon (figure 1<», plate lxxxvii) has the 
middle part formed by a narrow band of bone bent and fastened with 
bone rivets and pegs. The excavated top and bottom are made of 
wood in the form of truncated cones with slightly projecting rims; 
they fit stopper-like into the bone circle. On the bone part are etched 
circles and dots with a continuous zigzag border. On the top of the 
box a round section of walrus tooth is inlaid in the center, and five 
smaller pieces are set at regular intervals around the beveled edge. On 
both the upper and the lower edge of the border are inserted small tufts 
of seal hair fastened with pegs. 

>IVU> BOXES 

Figure 10, i)late Lxxxvi, represents a small quid box, obtained on 
Nunivak island by Dr W. H. Dall. It is shaped in the form of a 
niurre's head, the lower mandible forming a thumb piece for raising the 
lid. The cover is formed by the jaw and throat; the eyes are outlined 
by incised circles; the nostrils consist of a hole pierced through the 
mandible in front of the eyes, in which is a sinew cord for attaching 
the box to the belt or for hanging it around the neck of the owner. 

A quid box from Ghalitmut (figure 8, plate Lxxxvi) is fiatteued 
above and below, and is oval in outline, with one end truncated. It is 
cut from a single piece, with the excei)tion of the cover, which fits into 
the top Hush with its edges, on which a rawhide loop serves as a handle. 
Around the sides, near the upper edge, is a deep groove, in which nine 
ivory i)egs are set at regular intervals. Six ivory pegs are inserted 
in the top and seven on the bottom along an incised line following the 
border. In the truncated end are five others, one at each corner and 
one in the middle. 

A specimen from Kushunuk (figure 14, plate lxxxvi) is an oval 
box large enough to hold only one or two quids of tobacco. The top 
is rather more Hatteiied than that of the preceding box. and has a 
stoi)per-like cover. Each end is carved to represent the features of 
some animal, incised lines marking the mouth, nostrils, and eyebrows. 
On its surface are several inlaid white beads, and similar beads repre 
sent the eyes and nostrils. 

A qiud box from Askinuk (figure 17, plate lxxxvi) represents a 
walrus, with i)rojecting tusks, lying on its back. On its abdominal sur- 



I,"!!) liOXKS 



27!) 

face i8 the ti^^ure of a yumv^ walrus. wlnH, tV.nns tl,e li,l ;,„.l M.s 
stoppei-.hke ...to an oval ..p.-nins in tlie hu-,.,- uniM.ai. Tl,,. Hi,,,,,,' 
are carved :n relief, an.l tl.e -yes arc rcprcsenicl hy inh,i,l iK-a,!... „.se 
of the arger wahn. bcn.u n-.i, thos. of lU, younj, one u hi,. „„.. of 
the tusks ot the larger aninn.l is ,„a<l,. of woo.l an.l tlu- ,.tln,- of hone 
Those ot the smaller walrus are both of hon.-. Another speeinu-a 
from Askumk (ligure l.'.l, plate lxxxvd is a cnriouslv frrotesn„.. hox 
rather oval in shape, with two long, tiipperlike projeciions „„ one end' 
The cover rudely repr.-sents a s.al-head turned np to form ,i„. tlMnnh' 
piece, while the neek an<l shoulders slope .lownwanl and have -x 
stop])er.shape base which Hts into an oval hole in the toj, of the l,ox 

A box from Anogogmut ,;tigure it, i)late lxxxvi, is egg shape in out- 
hue and tiattened above and below. It is carved from a single pie.^e 
of wood, except the stopper, which fits neatly into the top. "Around 
the sides are inlaid beads and circular bits of crockery, and a gored pat- 
tern is cut in relief on the surface of the sides. This boxrwhichis 
apparently made »f bircli, is a very neat iiiece of workmanship. 

The handsomely carved box from Kulwoguwigumut (ligure i;!, plato 
LXXXVI) is rather Hat on its upi)cr surface and oval on the other sides- 
the cover, more or less square in shape, tits like a stojiper into the ui)per 
surface and has a i)r()je(;tiiig thumb jjiece about half an in. h long. 
Holding this box with the cover ilownward it represents a grotesque 
figure of a porcupine; the mouth is deeply incised: the eves, fornn-d by 
ivory pegs, are iu saucer-shape depressions with incised crescentic 
lines back of the eyes; the nostrils are indicated by small pieces of 
ivory. On the rear side of the figure are three round-head ivory pegs 
set in a triangle. 

A circuhir box from Kushuunk (ligure L"i, plate Lxxxvii is tbrmcd 
of a band of spruce, with the overlai)ping ends beveled ami fastened by 
some kind of gum or cement: the bottom is lifted into a groove in the 
rim and the top is also neatly fitted. The cap of the Imx fits stopper- 
like into the top and is slightly convex in outline, having the face of a 
man carved lu low relief on its npi)er surface. The eyes and labrets 
are represented by roundhead ivory pegs, ami the mouth is a crescentic 
incision with a hole iu the center, through whicii is fastened a rawhide 
looj), serving to lift the cover. 

A round wooden box from Sledge island (lignre IT), plate Lxxxvi) is 
made in two nearly e(|ual parts which lit together by an inner border on 
the under half. It is cracked on one side and bound together by a 
sinew cord. 

A small wooden box from Chalitmnt (ligure IS, plate i.xxxvi) has tlie 
form of a human iiead; the face is carved in relief, the eyes and labrets 
are represented by inlaid white beads: the luoiith is (leei)ly incised and 
crescentic in form. In a groove whicdi extends around the face are set 
a series of round-head ivory jiegs: the back of the head has a liole 
iu which tits a cover with a projecting thumb piece crossing a notch mi 



280 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERINIi STRAIT [eth ann. l« 

tbe eclae of tlie box. The face is i)ainte(l reil. the back of the head 
bhick, and the cover bluish. 

Auotlier box from Chalitiiuit (flgnre 24, phite Lxxxvi) is carved in 
shape of a bear's head; it is painted bhick, with the open mouth and 
uostrils in red ; one eye is formed by au incised circle with a black cen- 
ter, the other is au oval incision with a small frafimeut of glass set in 
the center to represent the pu]nl. The cover is ingeniously made so 
that thelowei- jaw of the open mouth serves as a thumb piece by which 
it can be raised. There is a circular orifice in the head into which the 
cover tits, with a flaring rim, forming a continuous outline with the 
body of the box. 

Au oval wooden quid box from Kushunuk (rtgure 10, plate lxxxvi) 
has the top and the bottom ueatly fitted; a groove is incised around 
the side and three grooves in the cover, which has a rawhide loop. 
Bound ivory pegs are inlaid on all the surfaces; it is painted bluish 
and the grooves are red. 

An ivory quid box from T'nalaklit (figure 10, plate lxxxvi) has 
carved on the surface, in relief, the figures of four seals. A braided 
grass cord is attached for a handle, and the bottom is closed by a 
wooden stopper. The cover has been lost. 



The tobacco pipes used by the Eskimo on the mainland and adja- 
cent islands of northern Ahvska vary considerably in different locali- 
ties, as shown in the series illustrated, but in general their remarkable 
likeness to i)ipes used in China and .lapan is noteworthy, and suggests 
the source whence the patterns were derived. All of them have a 
small, cylindrical bowl, with a flaring top of greater or less breadth. 
The bowls are ordinarily made of stone, lead, or copper. They are set 
on the end of the stem and held in place by rawhide or sinew cord 
l)assed around the stem or through holes pierced in it. 

Exceptions to this style are found in some pipes from Kotzebue 
sound, Gape Prince of Wales, Oa])e Nome, and St Lawrence island, 
which are made with the bowl and the stem iu one piece; but in general 
character they are similar to the others. 

Pipe stems are usually of wood, with a mouthpiece of bone or ivory, 
although sometimes the wood itself is rounded to serve this purpose, 
or it may be tipped with an empty brass or copper cartridge shell, with 
a hole bored in the head. On Xorton sound and iu the Yukon district 
the stems are made usually of two pieces of wood, hollowed out and 
lashed together with a rawhide cord, so that they can be separated to 
obtain tlie nicotine, which is removed occasionally and mixed with the 
chewing tobacco. 

On the coast of Bering strait and at (Jape Nome, Port Clarence, 
Cape Prince of Wales, Sledge island, and Kotzebue sound, the ])ipes, 
which are made in one jtiece, have small, door like pieces htted ueatly 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN i THrj 




PIPES AND PIPE MOLD ONE-fuuHif 



■■—•-J ni'F.s o(^i 

in tlu" lou-cr pari of the s),..n, whuh .•;„! bo ronu.vo.l ;.t will to (vnihlo 
tlie owner to cieiui out the mctinmhite.l ni.otin.'. i:;,rl. pip,, is usinllv 
])rovi(led with a small metal in.plcnuMK. wlii.-li is useil i\>v .•Iranin-'tiio 
l)Owl and for tan.pin- tl.e tol.a.c.,: ii is attarlicl m il,,. stctii i.y a snin- 
or band of beads, or sometimes hy ii striii of tanned lawliidc. 

In addition to those (h"sc,il)e,"u there ar.' luuidsom.lv ornamented 
pipes made of ivory, with metal bowls. These are not virv nnmen.ns 
but were seen at widely sei)arated localities Innii the Vnkon mouiil 
northward thronffh I'.ering strait to Kotzebne sound. They are of the 
ordinary type, bnt have a narrow stem, beveled on loiir sides, and are 
handsomely ornamented with .tehed scenes, illustrating native customs* 
and life, similar in general style to the etchings on drill bows. 

Figure 13, plate l.xxxvill, ri'iu-esents a wooden mold used by the 
Eskimo for easting the wide mouth leaden bowls for their jiipcs. It 
was obtained at St Michael. It consists of live pieces: the two .side 
])ieces in which the shape of the pipe is excavated are held together by 
sinew cords in notches at each end; below a scpiare stick forms the 
base, on which stands a small, uiiright. round stick to form the hole in 




Fif;. iH-l>ii 



the bottom of the bowl, on the inside of which is a ring of wood with 
ti\e si)oke-like projections reacliing to the edge of the mold, which 
serves to produci> the i)attern tinit is seen on the bowls of man.\- of the 
])ipes. A round wooden cover tits snugly over the toji <if tlie mold, 
which has a round hole in the center through wliicli the iiinllen lead is 
jioured. 

From among the large nundier of ]iipes obtained from widely sepa- 
rated localities, the following specimens have been selected for illus- 
tration as rejiresenting the principal varieties found among tiiem: 

A pipe from Kot/ebue sound (ligure !tl) is a huge affair, very heavy 
ami clumsy. The wooden stem. IS inches in length and ."> inches in 
diameter near the bowl, is beveled to tbrm eight sides, ami has two 
neatly fitted square tablets, about 4P, inches long, fitted into its lower 
side; these have a projeetiou on one end to enable them to be lifted out 
for the purpose of extracting the accumulated nicotiiu'. The bowl of 
the pipe is ot lead, and several roughly oval jiieces of the sanu- metal 
are inlaid on the stem mw the bowl; the mouthpiece is a tapering 
tube of lead about i'i iiu-hes in length. 



2S2 THK ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 13 

A wooden pipe from Cape Priiico of Wales (figure 4, plate Lxxxviii) 
is cut tVoiu a siugle piece, the slightly flaring bowl being liuecl with 
tin, and an empty cartridge shell is fitted on the end of the stem for a 
mouthpiece. The lower end of the stem has three long pieces of wood 
fitted into openings to permit the removal of the nicotine from the 
interior. Fragments of a large blue bead are inlaid on the stem. 

The i)ipe from Cape Nome (figure 1, plate lxxxviii) is somewhat 
similar to the preceding, but the end of the stem is made in a separate 
piece, fitted into the larger part by a tapeiing Joint, and wrapped with 
rawhide cord; a copper cartridge shell forms the mouthi)iece. The 
•underside of the pipe has a long oval piece of wood set in an opening, 
the rear end of which is guaided by a strip of tin, having its two ends 
inserted iu the wood and fitted against the curve of the surface. An 
iron picker about three inches iu length is fastened to the stem by a 
strip of rawhide. This picker is neatly made, with one end bent over 
against a notch in the stem, forming an eye for the strap; the lower 
end is octagonal and has a chisel-shape tip. 

A pipe from Sledge island (figure 2, plate lxxxviii) is very similar 
to the preceding. The bowl forms a part of the stem and is lined with 
lead; on the underside of the stem, near the bowl, is inserted a long, 
narrow piece of wood, to cover a hole made for removing the nicotine, 
and a similar hole appears near the mouthpiece, on the upper part of 
the stem. The mouthpiece is made by shaping the tip of the stem to a 
rounded point, leaving a shoulder about one-third of an inch from 
the end. 

The i)ipe from St Lawrence island (figure 3, lxxxviii) is similar 
in shape to the preceding, but both the stem and the bowl are of lead. 
On the lower portion of the stem, next to the bowl, is an open pat- 
tern, in which are inlaid small pieces of wood; the bowl is fitted on 
the top of the stem, and held in jjlace by a rawhide cord which passes 
around the enlarged end of the stem, the lower surface of which has 
the usual long, nan-ow tablet for covering an orifice. 

A i)ipe from Fnalaklit (figure 5, plate lxxxviii) has a wooden stem 
made in two pieces, the rear section jointed to the forwar<l by a 
shoulder and a long, cone-shape, beveled point, which is inserted in 
the other section and fastened by a ring of brass, the ends of which 
are united by copper rivets. The mouthpiece is a smoothly tapering 
piece of ivory fitted into the stem, the joint being surrounded by a 
broad co])i)er ring. A i)lug of wood fits into the front end of the stem 
to permit the removal of the nicotine, for which purpose the joint in 
the stem is also Contrived. The small cylindrical bowl is of lead with 
a broad flaring rim; on its base are two shoulders for securing the bowl 
to the stem bj' a rawhide cord, which is wound several times around 
the shoulders and the end of the stem and tucked under itself at each 
side. 

The pipe showii iu figure 11, plate lxxxviii, is more strougly curved 



than the ,.r.H-e,lin^. w,tl, a tapori,,^ w.,o,Um. ste.n on whid. is ,uou,.t..a 
a neatly .nu.le .opper howl, with op.nwo. U patterns on the .hui,... 1 
and w,th .houh ers ,b.. the eonl by whieh it is attache.! ,o the st ' 
Two narrow taWets are M.serte.l o„ the iowr side of ,„.. s.en.. and ,1. « 
front end is excavated and the hoh- close.l by a wooden pin.. ■ ,i,.. „,outh 
piece IS of ivory, neatly made and litted into the wood, the joint bein-^ 
covered witli a ferrule niaih' from a brass cartrid-e sliell 

The pipe from Cape Kon.e (figure S. ph.te lxxxviiims somewhat 
smniar m shape to the preceding and has a well made copper bowl and 
a wooden stem, in whi.h are two holes: throu-h then, a cord is passed 
and wrapped a.ound shonlders on th.. bowl, making two or three tnrn.s 
on each side, the ends being fastened l)y tucking them und.-r In the 
front of the stem is a small wooden ping with a projectin- end to 
enable the owner to remove it with his teeth: a small tablet is also 
titted into a hole in the stem and provi.ied with a ta- of sealskin to 
facilitate its removal. The well-made mouthpiece of ivory is lilted into 
the wood and the Joint is wiajjped with sinew cord. A small inm 
picker is atta.'hed to the upper part of the stem by a string of beads 
about seven inches in length. 

A pipe from Port Clarence (figure 7, i)late T.wxviii i is very similar in 
shape to the preceding, but its bowl is made from .soft .stone lashed on 
with sinew cord i)assed around the end of the-stein. The montlipiece 
consists of a small cartridge shell litted into the wood, and over tiie 
Joint is a coi)per thinible. 

Figure I(», plate lxxxviii, represents a pipe of the style generally in 
nse about Xortoii sound and southward to the lower Knskokwim. Tiie 
wooden stem is split lengthwise and the two jiartsare held together by 
a coiitinuons wrapping of sealskin cord, which serves also to hold the 
leaden bowl in position on the stem. The bowl is neatly made, with 
openwork around tlie tiaring rim. The mouthpiece is a copper car- 
tridge shell litted over the end of the stem. An iron jucker is attached 
to the stem by a band of beads made of six strings, separated by leather 
spacers and fastened by the lashing on the stem. 

A ])ipe with a stem similar to the |)re('eding (figure i!, plate lxxxviii) 
is from Point Hope. A mouthpiece of walrii.s ivory is litted to the stem 
by a coppi'r cartridge shell. The Ihiring rim of the bowl is made from 
bituminous coal lined with a thin sheet of iron, and is set directly on 
the stem without the usual neckpiece between. An iron i)icker is 
attached to the stem by a rawhide straji fastened with a sinew cord. 

At present pii)e bowls generally are made of metal, cojiper and lead 
being most in use, but formerly stone bowls, similar in shai)e. were 
common, and a few S])e(;imeiis of these were obtained, ininciiially from 
the vicinity of IJering strait. 

Figure 12, plate i.xxxviii, represents one of these bowl.s, made of 
hard, olive-gray stone. It was obtained at Nubvinkhchngalnk. 

A bowl made of walrus ivory (liguie 11, Lxxxviii, was dug Irom the 



284 THE ESKIxMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann.iS 

site of an old village near St Michael. It is slightly ditiereiit iu pat- 
tern from eitlier the stone or the metal bowls. It is very old, ante- 
dating the arrival of the Ivussiaus on the shore of Norton sound. 

A wooden-stem pipe from Cape Trinpe of Wales (figure 95) has a 
small brass bowl, i'ipes of this shape are occasionally seen between 
Is^orton sound and Kotzebue sound. 

Figure 1. ])late Lxxxix, represents an ivory-stem pipe with a 
stone bowl which was obtained at St ilichael. The stem is diamond- 
shape iu cross section, and has its surface elaborately etched. On 
one side a series of umiaks and kaiaks are pursuing a walrus; on the 
otlier side are reindeer that ha\e just crossed a river, and a man iu a 
kaiak has thrown a spear into tlie back of the last one as it emerges 
from the water, while at the farther end a man is shooting another with 
an arrow. On the remainder of the surface is a series of conventional 
designs. 

Another handsomely etched ivory i>ipestem (tigure 3, plate lxxxix) 
was obtained at Norton sound. On the side shown in the illustration 
are various huutiug scenes iu which ai'e whales, walrus, aud seals, aud 




a man is shooting with a bow aiul arrow just in front of a kashim iu 
which people are dancing to the nuisic of a drum. 

The handsomely etched pipestem shown in plate Lxxxix, 2, was 
obtained in Kotzebne sound by Lieutenant Stoncy. It has the raveu 
totem marks near the mouthpiece, and a variety of hunting aud other 
scenes of Eskimo life, besides various conventional designs, over its 
surface. Another handsome pipe (tigure 4, jjlate lxxxix) was also 
obtained at the same place 'oy Lieutenant Stoney. Tlie leaden bowl 
has an old clock-wheel inlaid in the top of the flaring rim. Like the 
preceding, the stem has the raven totem mark near the mouthpiece, 
and is elaborately etched with scenes from the life of the people, among 
which are the hunting and trai)ping of game and fish, danciug in the 
kashim, and playing football. 

'li)I'.A(;(.:() HAGS 

With the pipes are carried small, round-bottom tobacco bags, made 
from various kinds of ornamental fur or skin, the borders ofteu having 
handsome patterns formed by different colored skins, fur, or beadwork 
tassels. The top is generally l)ordered by strips of fur of the wolverine, 
mink, or other animal, or sometimes by a baud of ornamental needle- 
work. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 




SNUFF TUBES about nine-sixteenths 



NELSON] TOISACTO I!A(;s— TIIK K.\S1UM 2H') 

Figure 2, plate l.wwii, ivpirsciis „i„. of tiics,. lufis. wlii.li was 
obtaiJied at Painmt. on tlio lower Yukon. Ii ^ ;,l„,ut m i,„.i„.s ,!,.,.,>, 
and is intended for carryiuf;' tin' pipe, tobacco. Hint, steel. ;um1 tindfr'. 
Tlie back i.s of winter reindeer skin, witli tlie liair enl .lose; tlie 
front i.s of the skin of I'arry's inarniol ; ah.iind the hnver ed;;e and' near 
tlie upper border are sewed strips of wolverine skin. The h)wer two- 
thirds of the bag is ornamented by a pattern of whiteliair deerskin 
with two narrow strips of black skin welted in the seams, and a row 
of small tufts of red worsted spaced around at regular intervals. Tiie 
month of the bag- is surrounded by pattern work of white and dark 
threads on narrow strips of yellow ami black skin, the extreme edge 
being bound with cabco. 

A similar bag. of nearly the same size and shape (nundier ISl.-.H), was 
obtained at Cape Darby. As is usual in all tliese hags, the bottom is 
rouinled and the top straight. The lower two thirds is fringed with 
a narrow strip of udnk skin, inside which is a jialtern made with sirijis 
of white reindeer skin, with narrow strijis of black skin welted into the 
seams, aud two series of small red worsted tags spaced all aruunil. The 
border of the bag is of white. i)arehmentlike sealskin, and the string 
for closing it is of the same material. 

Figure 1, plate Lxxxvii, represents a smaller bag of the same shape, 
but with less oi-namentation. It is ."iA inches deep, and is niadeof deer- 
skin, which is worn nearly bare of hair by use. A band of skin is sewed 
around the mouth and little strings of red and white beads, about an 
inch in length, hang in pairs around the lower border ami sides, each 
String having pendent from it a suuill tuft ol mink fur. 

HOITSK-till'K AXI) SOCIAL (TSTOMS 

TIIE KAS1HM 

Among the Eskimo in every villagv of the Alaskan mainland and the 
islands of Bering strait the iMsliini is the center of social and religions 
life. In it every man has a recognized ]daee according to his standing 
in the community, and it is also the common sleeping place for the men. 
The women and the children live in houses aitart and the men sleep 
with their families only occasionally. 

When a new kashim is to be built the villagers of Norton sound make 
a song of invitation to people of the same tribe living in neighhoriug 
places, which is learned by one of the young men. who is then sent to 
invite the guests. The messenger goes to the designated village, where 
he enters tlie kashim and during a dance sings his song of invitation to 
both men and women. When an invitation of this kind is given all 
respond and join in building the new kashim. This is said to pro.luce 
friendly feeling between the neighboring places, which will render them 
successful iu their hunting. 



286 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth a™. 18 

The men are nearly always to be fonud in tlie kashiin when iu the 
village, this being their general gathering place, where they work on 
tools or implements of the chase, or in prei)aring skins. 

Dances and festivals of all kinds are held in this building, anil there 
the shamans perform some of their most important ceremonies. Tiie 
old men gather there and repeat the traditions of their fathers. The 
younger (mes are thus instructed and become familiar with the tales 
and wisdom of the elders. 

It is the usual place for the reception of guests; and there is scarcely 
an occurrence of note in the hfe of an Eskimo man which he can not 
connect with rites in which the kashim plays an important part. This 
is essentially the house of the men; at certain times, and during the 
performance of certain rites, the women are rigidly excluded, and the 
men sleep there at all times when their observances require them to 
keep apart from their wives. 

(iames are played there in winter by men and boys, and twice or three 
times a day food is brought by the women from the surrounding houses. 
Unmarried men sleep there at all times, as they have no recognized 
place elsewhere, except as the providers of food for their parents or other 
relatives dependent on their exertions. The sleeping place, near the 
oil lamp which burns at the back of the room opposite the summer 
entrance, is the place of honor, where the wise old men sit with the 
shamans and best hunters. The place near the entrance on the front 
side of the room is allotted to the worthless men who are poor and con- 
tribute nothing to the general welfare of the community, also to orphan 
boys and friendless persons. 

The first time a child is taken into a kashim in the village of its 
parents, the latter present a gift to each person present at the time 
as a propitiatory offering and to secure the good will of their neigh- 
bors. A similar custom is observed by all strangers arriving at the 
village; they are required to dance and sing a little and, if on an ordi- 
nary journey, are supposed to make pi'eseiits according to their means. 

All messengers who reach villages for the purpose of announcing a 
festival or an invitation to other observances in their own town, deliver 
their message in the form of a song while dancing in the kashim. 

In the summer of 1S7!) a party of Eskimo from East cape, Siberia, 
and the Diomede islands in Bering strait, came to St Michael. On 
their arrival they sang and danced iu the kashim, making offerings to 
the peo])le. The songs and dances were very similar to those I had 
seen i)erformed on Sledge island in honor of the fur trader and myself 
during our winter visit to that place. 

At the time of this visit we entered the kashim and gave the headman 
some tobacco to distribute among the men present and some needles 
for the women. These he di\ided among them, and afterward the men 
who took ])art in the dance as representatives of the community gave 
us each a small present, which was considered as establishing friendly 



KASiriM (TSTOMS— SWEAT riATHS 



287 



JW-linj;- b..twecM, us. ..xl..M,lin.^ 11,,. privil,.... or th,- U.s|,i,„ and .s ■. 
tcstiMioiiy o( the jiixKl will „r tli,- iiiliabifauts 

South „f the Vuk,.M th.. n.r t.a-Ier.s .uaKe' a pra.ticv „r ....mplvin. 
with tlus custom or oivin,,- presents wheiu-ver they visit a villa-e lo^ 
the hrst time, and at St Miehael we .li.l the san.e wheMe^..^ w." were 
invited to attend tiie first autumnal festival: but the I'.kinm do not 
expect the white men to dauee and sin-, as woul.l be obli,rat,.rv with 
their own jieojile. " 

The presents are always handed to the headnim of the villa.re who 
divide and distribute them anion- their fellow fwiismen. Air^nests 
whom It is desired to honor are -iven seats on the side of the ir,sl,im 
wliere the old men of tlie villa.i^e sit. If that side of the kashini 
chances to be fully occupied, some of the men make ro.mi for their 
.uuests. At a villa-e n.^ar the head of Norton, sound I was ..iven 
the usual i.lace of iionor in the kashim. and wlien the women brou-ht 
in food a dish of boiled s(.al intestines was i)resented to me as a s'jie- 
cial delicacy. 

The observance of -iviiii; i>resents and of placin,!; thecdd men and the 
guests at tlie bead of the kashim is customary also among the Tinne of 
the Yukon, wlio have adopted these customs from the Eskimo. 

The men usually wear no clothiii!;- while in the kashim. but this being 
the custom it does not excite the slightest notice. The women tv^- 
quently sit upon the tioor by their relatives until the latter have liu- 
islied their repast, or sometimes leave after delivering the food and 
return later to remove the eini)ty dishes. 1 )uring festivals, (binces. and 
other ceremonies the women gather in the kashim as .spectators and 
sometimes take part in the peilbiinances. 

SWICAI' HATIIS 

In these l)uildiugs sweat l)aths are taken by men and boys at inter- 
vals of a week or ten days during the winter. Every man has a small 
urine tub near his pbice, where this liquid is saved for use in batiiing. 
A portion of the floor in tlie center of the room is made of ])lanks so 
arranged that it can be taken up, ex]K)siiiga pit beneath, in wliich a lire 
of drilt h)gs is built. When the smoke has passed olV and the wood is 
reduced to a bed of coals, a cover is put over the smoke hole in the 
I'oof and the men sit naked about the room until they are in jirofuse 
perspiration; they then bathe in the urine, which combines witii tiicoil 
on their bodies, and thus takes the place of soap, after which they go 
outside and ])0ur water over their bodies until tiicy l)ecoiiiecool. \\'hile 
bathing they remain in the kashim with the teinperatiire so high that 
their skin becomes sliiniiig red and appears to be almost at the |)oint 
of blistering; then going <mtsi(le they sipiat about in the snow perfectly 
nude, and seem to enjoy the contrasting temperature. On several 
occasions I saw them go from tln^ sweat l)ath to holes in tlie ii'c on 
neighboring streams and. sijuatliug there, pour ice water over their 



2«b 



THi: ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. IS 



backs iuul shoulders with ;i wooden dipper, uppareutly experienciiij;the 
greatest pleasure from tlie operation. 

Throughout the region visited the men, while taking their sweat 
baths, are accustomed to use a cap made of the skiu of some waterfowl, 
usually the red- or black-throat loon. The skiu is cut opeu along the 
belly and removed entire, minus the ueck, wings and legs; it is then 
dried and softened so as to be pliable and is fastened together at the 
neck in such a way that it can be worn on the head. Owing to the 
intense heat generated in the lire pit, the bathers, -who are always 
males, are obliged to use respirators to protect their lungs. These are 
nnule of fine shavings of willow or spruce bound into the form of au 
obloug i)ad formed to cover the month, the chin, and a portion of the 
cheeks. These pads are convex externally and concave within; cross- 
ing the concave side is a small wooden rod, either round or square, so 

that the wearer can 
grasp it in his teeth 
and thus hold the 
respirator Iti posi- 
tion. 

Some of the res- 
pirators are made of 
shavings bound to- 
gether at each end 
by a few strands of 
the same material 
and furnished with 
a wooden holder. 
Others are more 
elaborately made, as 
in the example from 
Shaktolik shown in figure '.Kl. This is a little over 5 inches in length 
and -i inches broad, and is made of lint^ wood shavings; it is smoothly 
oval in outline, with the border rounded by means of a rope-like band 
of shavings tightly wound with a cord made of the same material. 
Inclosed within this oval ring is a soft nuiss of shavings held in posi- 
tion by a loosely twisted cord nuide of the same. On the inner side 
tlu^ shavings are i)acked loosely and held in position by the rod or 
mouthpiece which crosses the pad horizontally. 




nwELi>iN(t norsES 

The dwelling houses are the domain i)f the women. From one to 
three tamilies miiy occupy tiie i)latfornis in the single room which the 
house contains, but each is quite separate and independent in all of its 
domestic arrangements. Each woman who is the head of a family has 
an oil lamp beside her sleeping bench where she sews or carries on her 
household work. Her own cooking utensils and wooden dishes for food, 



■"'"""'■' NATAL CrsTOMS .)j^g 

t..setl,n witl, ,1,. stodc „f soal oil. ,|ri..,l s;.l„,on, ;u,.l ,.,l...r artM^s „r 
dmm.stir ..cMoiny. an- k..|.t at o>u. si.le ..1 th, plat tuna or i„ a ,„.,„■,■ 
ot the room dcvoteil to tliis piuiiosc. 

When tl,o t,me a,M.roa,.l,..s lor tho ,Mvparatio„ „r a m.-al, a ti... is 
l.uiltn, tliemuUlIcof tl.,- n.on, a.i.l the food n.ad.. n-a.lv. alter « hi.-h 
ea<h Nvoniaii j.laces a ,,naiitit.v in one or more woo.lei, .lislies takes it t.. 
the kasluMi. aiul sets it hesi.l,. her husbau.i. lather, or xvhc.yer si,,- has 
provided tor. 

• iiiLDisiirrn 

Duriii-chihll.irthoid women who are i-eputed to have skillin sueh 
matters a.'t as midwives. Formerly, amon-; the Unalit, when a woman 
was eonfiiieil with her tirst ehdd she was eonsidered unelean and i-nt out 
in a tent or other shelter by herself for a certain period. This eiistoni is 
now becominii- obsolete, bnt it is still observed by the Kskimo of 
Kaviak peninsula, by the .Malemut. and l>y other remote tril)es. In ..lie 
ease that came to my knowledge a yoiiiii;- Mah-mut woman was eonlincd 
with her firstehild at a- viUa.ii-e on the lower Yukon. It was midwinter, 
but she was put outside in a small brush hut covered with snow and 
her food handed her by her husband throu;;h a small oju'iiiiig. Despite 
the intensely cold weather, she was kept there for about two months. 

When a child is born it is given the name of tiie last iieison who 
died ill the village, or the name of a deceased relative who may have 
lived in another place. The child thus becomes the namesake and 
representative of the dead person at the feast to the dead, as described 
under the beading of that festival, hi case the child is born away 
from the, village, at a camp or on the tundra, it is commonly given the 
name of the tirst object that catches its mother's eyes, such as a bush 
or other phiut, a mountain, lake, or other natural object. 

The name thus given is sometimes changed. When a person becouies 
okl he takes a new name, hoping thereby to obtain an extension of hie. 
The new name given is usually indicative of some ])ersonal jieciiliariiy, 
and, after a person makes a (diange of this kind, it is considered 
iniprnj)er to mention the former one. Some of the Malemnt dislike 
very uiucli to pronounce then own names, and if a man be asked his 
name be will appear confused and will generally turn to a bystander, 
asking liim to give the desired information. 

Formerly it was a common custom to kill female children at birth if 
they were not wanted, and girls were often killed when from 1 to 6 
years of age. Children of this sex are looked upon as a bunb'ii, since 
they are not capable of contributing to the food suj.ply of the family, 
wliile they add to the number (»f i)ersoiis to lie maintained. When 
infants are killed they are taken out naked to the graveyard and (here 
e.xijosed to the cold, their mouths being tilled with snow, so that they 
will freeze to death (piicklx-. 

Near St Michael 1 saw a yoiiug Malemut giil of 10 or lu years, 
1>S ETH 1!) 



290 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [etii.an.v18 

wlio, soon after birth, had been exi>osc(l in tliis inanuer with her mouth 
fiUeil with snow. Fortunately for the ehild, this occurred close to a 
trading;' station. r>y accident the trader found her a few moments 
later, and by threats succeeded in making the mother take her back. 
Tlie cliild was afterward reared without farther attempt on tiie ]iart of 
the parents to take its life. 

One of the Eskimo told me that if a man had a girl not more than 5 
or G years old who cried much, (u- if he disliked it for any reason, or 
found it difficult to obtain food for the family, he would take it far out 
on tlu^ ice at sea or on the tundra during a severe snow storm, and 
there abandon it to ])erish by ex])osure. 

A man at St IVlichael was in my house one day and told me in a 
casual way that his wife had given birth to another girl, and added, 
"At first 1 was going to throw it away on the tundra, and then I could 
not, for it was too dear to me.'' This man was one of the most intelli- 
gent Eskimo I knew. He had been associated with the Ivussiaus and 
other white men since early boyhood, and was one of the so-called cou 
verts of the Russian church; yet the idea that a man was not perfectly 
justified in disi)osiiig of a girl child as he saw fit never for a moment 
occurred to hini. 

On the other hand, a pair of childless Eskimo frequently adopt a 
child, either a girl or a boy, prefei-ably the latter. This is done so that 
when they die there will be some one left whose duty it will be to make 
the custonuiry feast and offerings to their shades at the festival of the 
dead. All of the Eskimo appear to have great dread of dying without 
being assured that their shades will be remembered during tlie fes- 
tivals, fearing if neglected that they would thereby suffer destitution 
in the future life. 

In March, ISSO, while on a journey to Sledge island, just south of 
Bering strait, we were accompanied for the last 75 miles by the wife of 
our Eskimo interpreter, who was a fine looking woman of about 30 
years and was heavy with child. She went with us in order that her 
confiueuieut might take place among her own people, who lived on the 
island. Notwithstanding her condition, she tramped steadily through 
the snow with the rest of us day after day, and on the morning of our 
arrival at the islaud she was in the room with us talking and laughing 
when she became suddenly ill, went to her mother's house, and was 
delivered of a tine boy in less than half an hour. Directly alter the 
birth a shaman came in and borrowed from me a drum and a small 
ivory carving of a white whale, which 1 had purchased on the road. 
The father explained that the image of the whale was borrowed to put 
in the child's mouth so as to feed him upon something that would make 
him grow up a tine hunter. The shaman beat the drum and sang for 
half an hour over the boy to make him stout-hearted and manly. The 
woman remained at this village a few days and then walked back the 
75 miles to her home, carrying tlie child on her back. 



PUBERTY AM) MAK1!1A( IK KITKS 



291 



IMl-.r.lMV 



Ainoiigtbe Malennit. and sontlnvaid Imin the low.-r Ynlcn i,,,! ■..li-i 
cent (iistru'ts, 'vlieii a giil r.-adu's tlic a-o of pul.ertv sl,o is .■..iisi.lVn'.l 
unclean for Ibity -lays; she must tlieieloic live by herself in a .oineiof 
the h.mse with her face to the uall. an.l always kcei. her hoo.l over her 
head, with her bair hanging disheveled over her eves. Durinu- this time 
she must not go out by day and but once each night when every one is 
asleep, but if it issnmmei the girl commonly lives in a rough shelter out- 
side the bouse. At the end of the period she bathes and is doth.-d in 
new garments, after which she may be taUen in marriage. The same 
custom foi nierly prevailed among the rnalit, but at in-esent the girl is 
secluded behind a grass mat in one corner of the room lor theiierioilof 
only four days, during which time she is said to lie »'•</"■/'» .'/■"</»/.-, 
meaning she becomes a woman, and is considered unclean. A jiecnliar 
atmo.spliere is sujiposed to surround her at this time, and if a young 
mail should come near enough tor it to touch him it would render him 
visible to every animal he might hunt, .so that his success as a hunter 
Would be gone. Should a considerable time jiass after a girl reaches 
puberty and no suitor appear, the father accumulates a large amount 
of food and makes a festival for the purpose of announcing that his 
daughter is ready for maiiiage. 

MAKRIAUE 

Among the Unalit when a young man sees a girl Ik; wishes to marry 
he tells his parents and one of them goes to the girl's parents to ask 
their consent. Having obtained this, the suitor dresses in his liiiest 
clothing and goes to the bride's house with a new suit of garments, 
which he puts upon her and she becomes his wife. If the iiaientsof 
either jiarty have no children at home, the newly married couple go to 
live with them; otherwise they set up an establishiiient of their own, 
either building a new house or sharing one with some one else. 

The T'nalit fre(iueutly marry first cousins or remote blood relatives 
with the idea that in such a case a wife is nearer to her husband. One 
man said that in case of taiiiine, if a man's wife was from another family 
she would steal food from him to save her own life, while the husband 
would die of starvation: but should a woman be of his own blood she 
would .share fairly with him. The wife is con.sidered to become more a 
part of the husband's family than he of hers. However, brothers and 
.sisters, and step brothers and step-sisters, do not intermarry. 

From the lower Yukon to the Kiiskokwim child betrothals are com 
niou and may occur in two ways. The parents of a very small ^;irl 
who have no son may agree with the parents of .several sons that one 
of the boys .shall live with them and become the girl's hiisliand. .Vgain, 
a young boy may sometimes choose a family, containing a girl, m which 



292 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STKAIT [eth.ann. 18 

lie would like to live. In such case he takes with biiu his clothiug 
aud iiiii)lemeuts, besides a hue suit of clothes for bis future bride, and 
leaviug his owu parents, goes to the people whom he has adopted, aud 
trausfeis filial duty of every kind to his adopted father to the exclusion 
of his owu parents. In such cases the girl is frequently not over 4 or 5 
years of age. yonietimes such arrangements are made by a couple 
to take effect when the first girl is born. 

In these child marriages when the girl reaches jmberty both she and 
her husband are considered unclean, and neither of them is permitted 
to take part in any work for a month, at the end of which period the 
young husband takes presents to the kashim and distributes them. 
After this he enjoys the rights of other heads of families. 

Men who are able to provide for them frequentl.y take two or even 
more wives. In such cases the first wife is regarded as the head of the 
family and has charge of the food, but either may carry food to the 
kashim for the husband. A man may discard a wife who is a scold, or 
unfaithful to him, or who is niggardly with food, keeping the best for 
herself. On the other hand, a woman may leave a man who is cruel to 
her or who fails to provide the necessary subsistence. When a husband 
finds that his wife is unfaithful he may beat her, but he rarely avenges 
himself on the man concerned, although at times this may form an 
excuse for an affray where enmity had previously existed between the 
parties. An old man told me that in ancient times when the husband 
aud a lover quarreled about a woman they were disarmed by the neigh- 
bors and then settled the trouble with their tists or by wrestling, the 
victor in the struggle taking the woman. It is a common custom for 
two men living m different villages to agree to become bond fellows, or 
brothers by adoption. Having made this arrangement, whenever one 
of the men goes to the others village he is received as the bond 
brother's guest aud is given the use of his host's bed with his wife 
during his stay. When the visit is returned the same favor is extended 
to the other, consetpiently neither family kuows who is the father of 
the children. Men who have made this arrangement term one another 
hin'-i-tfun' ; each terms the other one's wife nul'i-u'-yuk, and the chil- 
dren of the two families call each other liit-lnun'. Among people south 
of the Yukon the last term is sometimes used between children of two 
families where the man has married the discarded wife of another. 

It is frequently the case that a man enjoys the rights of a husband 
before living regularly with the woman he takes for a wife, and noth- 
ing wrong is thought of it, unmarried females being considered free to 
suit themselves in this regard. 

:M0K A r, CHARACTERISTICS 

Blood revenge is considered a sacred duty among all the Eskimo, and 
it is a common thing to find men who dare not visit certain villages 
because of a blood lead existing, owing to their having killed some one 



^''^°"' '^'-001. Rr:vKN,.E 2!)3 

whose near relatives live i„ the place. 0„ .linVrent „....as , ,,,, 

men go w.th n>e where they .lare.l not ,o with..,,, ,1... pn.tee.i.,, ' „ 1, h 

•-i^^^vr^"^""^^; ->-i--'e;:;;:;ui;;;;;wheX;:;;;;:a 

nn.l s,t for honrs wat..!,.,..,- the one with me like a Least of prev a ItT . 
n,e.-e laet that n.y Kski,,.,. eon.panion was w.th a whit..',"u; w ' ^ 
that saved hini. 

In another case a boy „r U years shot an.l kille.l a ,.,aa who ha.l 
nu.rdere, h,s father when the hoy was an iofant. The .lutv of bloo. 
revenge belongs to the nearest male relative, so that if thr's,.,, is •„, 
infant, and too young to avenge his father at the ti<ne, it rests with l.'im 
to seek revenge as soon as h. attains p„berty. If a man has „„ s„n 
then his br<.ther, fath.M-. nncle, .,r whosoever is nearest of kin nn.st 
avenge him. 

In the case of the boy mentioned, the man who had killed his father 
lived in the same village with him until he be,'ame gi„wn. ( »ne moiu- 
mg, as the man was preparing to hiteh up his dogs and start on a trip 
the boy's nnele handed him a loaded ririe and told liini that it was time 
to avenge hi.s fathers death; the boy at once went outside and. taking 
deliberate aim, shot the man <lead. Fort,i, lately the dead nmn had no 
relatives, or it woidd have devolved upon them to retaliate by killing 
the boy. 

Owing to this enstom. a man who has killed another watches inces- 
santly, and in the end his eyes acipiire a jieculiar restless expression 
which the Eskimo have learned to recognize at once. Several of them 
told me that they could always recognize a man who had killed another 
by the exi.ression of his eyes, and from cases ob,;erve(l by myself I think 
that this is undoubtedly true. 

The desultory fend existing between the Kotzebm^ sound Malemiit 
and the Tinnt- of the interior i.artakes of the character of blood revenge, 
except that eacdi .side seeks to avenge the death of relatives or (ellow 
tribesmen upon any of the opposing tribe. 

Stealing from ])eople of the same village or tribe is regarded as 
wrong. The thief is made ashamed by being talked to in the kashim 
when all the peojile are present, and in this way is fie(|neiitly forced to 
restore the articles he has taken. An old man at St .Michael told me 
that once a number of men took an incorrigible thief and wliile some 
held him others beat him on the back of his hand until he roared with 
pain, but that the fellow stole Just the same afterward, and nothing 
further was done except to talk to him in the kashim. To steal from a 
stranger or from ])eople of another tribe is not considered wrong so 
long as it does not bring trouble on the community. 

The E.skimo living ab.mt the trading .stations have adoi>ted some 
ideas in regard to this matter from the whites. As a result of this, 
coux)led with the memory of some wholesome chastisements that have 



294 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |eth.a>'n i8 

followed theft at various times, the propeity of white meu 'S tolerably 
safe ill most places. 

The only feeling of conscience or moral duty that I noted among the 
Eskimo seemed to be an instinctive desire to do that which was most 
conducive to the general good of the community, as looked at from their 
Ijoiiit of view. Whatever experience has taught them to be best is 
done, guided by superstitious usages and customs If asked -why they 
do certain things, they would almost invariably reply, ''We have 
always done so." But iu most cases an underlyiug reasou could be 
obtained if they were (piestioued further, and if they had sufiicieut 
confidence iu the (luestioner to express themselves to him freely regard- 
ing their deepest beliefs. 

A curious innate distrust of straugers, or of people apart from them- 
selves, was shown by the common demand for pay iu advance when 
they were asked to do anything for white men. This was seen repeat- 
edly among the Unalit, yet I do not suppose that in all their dealings 
with white men during recent years they had known o( an instance iu 
which one was employed without being paid in full. 

In the same way they would hesitate and even refuse to give white 
meu any articles of value to be paid for at another tune. On the other 
hand, it was a constant practice among them to obtain credit at the 
trading stations, to be paid when they should have procured the neces- 
sary skins. In this, however, they were very honest, paying all debts 
contracted iu this manner. 

During my residence at St Jlichael I saw men trusted for goods who 
came from distant villages and were scarcely known by sight to the 
traders. This would olten happen when the mau lived in a village 100 
or I'OO miles away. 

On one occasion au Eskimo came to St Michael in midwinter from 
uear Kotzebue sound, bringing a mink skin to settle a debt which he 
had contracted with the trader the previous year. If this man had 
desired to do so, he need not have come and the trader would have 
had uo means of obtaining his paj'. This was but one of many such 
cases that came to my notice. 

A cuiious ])art of this custom was that very often the same Eskimo 
who would be perfectly honest aud-go to great trouble aud exertion to 
settle a debt would not hesitate to steal from the same trader. Amoug 
themselves this feeling is not generally so strong, aud if a man borrows 
from another and fails to return the article he is not held to account 
for it. This is done under tlie general feeling that if a person has 
enough property to enable him to lend some of it, he has more thau he 
needs. The one who makes the loan under these circumstances does 
not even feel justitied in asking a return of the article, and waits for it 
to be given back voluntarily. 

My interpreter, a full-blood Eskimo, once told me that he had loaned 
an old pistol the season before and the borrower had never leturned 



'•EUioNl Br.iiGlNG II;)SriTAUITY 2!l0 

it. I aske.l him why 1r. ,li,l „„t ask lor it. as tlirv livv.l n,.;,,- ,-,wh 
other ill tlu- same vilhip.. To tliis 1,.. n-plir.l that lie cuuhl u,.t. and 
must wait for the man to hriug- tl,e pistol h.uk of his own ai-.'oid. 

Bej-sin-i- is .•oinnioM only amony; those IvsUiim. who have hail eon-idcr- 
able iiiteieourse with wliite men. This (aistom has evidently romeal.ont 
through iiuliseriiuinate sivinj; of presents. From St Mhhael soutli- 
ward to the Yukon mouth, and themo up the river to Cluikwhuk. the 
))eo[)le have had more dealings with wiiite men than elsewhere in the 
region eovered by my travels. They weie also the most [.ei-slstent 
beggans that I met. and in some villages were so importunate that they 
fairly drove me away 

The i>eoi)le not aceustoined to meeting white iiuMi were little addicted 
to begging, and their manners were usually much more frank and 
attraetive. 

II<)Si)itality is regarded as a duty among the Kskimo. so I'ar as con- 
eeriKs their own friends in the snirounding villages, and to strangers 
in certain cases, as well as to all guests visiting the villages during 
festivals. Hy tlie exercise of hospitality to their friends aiul the jieople 
of neighboring villages their good will is retained and they are saved 
from any evil inliueiice to which they might otherwise be subjected. 
Strangers are usually regarded with more or less sus|iicioii, and in 
ancient times were eomiuonly put to death. 

During my sledge journeys among them 1 ex])erieiu'ed a hospitable 
reception at most of the places, but on a few occasions the people were 
sullen and disobliging, apjiarently resenting my preseiu'C. At Cape 
Xoine and on Sledge island during a winter visit I found the iieojile 
extremely kind aud liospital)le. 

At the time of our arrival at Sledge island the inhabitants were .so 
de.stitute that their dogs had all died of starvation, and some of the 
people were living upon scraps. Owing to the lack of food for our 
dogs the trader and my.self decided to return at once to the mainland, 
but the headman and several of the other villagers surrounded us, 
urging us to stay over two nights, in order that they might show their 
appreciation of our visit, and assuring us at the same time that they 
would tiiid something tor tuir dogs. 

True to his promise, the headman went out among the villagers and 
the women soon came to us. bringing little fragments of seal meat, 
blubber, and tisli, so that we linaily gathered eiuaigh food for our dogs. 
We were shown to the best house in the place, ami in the evening, when 
we had unrolled our blankets, the headman asked if we wishe.l to 
sleep. When we replied that we diil. he at once sent out all of the 
people who had congregated there with the exception of the owners ot 

the house. 

Stopping on Sledge island at this time we found a number ot King 
islanders troin" farther north in llering strait. They had come -lown the 
coast, visiting at various villages in order to live upon the people, as 



2<)(; THE ESKIMO AIIOUT ISEUING STRAIT |etii. ann. 18 

the food supply at their own home hiid been exhausted. They were a 
stronu, energetie set of men, and. beiiis bold and dishonest, did not 
hesitate to bully and otherwise terrify the more peaceable villagers into 
snpplyini;- theiu with fo()d. 

In the morning after my arrival at Sledge island a knife was stolen 
from my box of trading goods, and on making this known to tlie head- 
man lie sent out a small boy. who returned in a few moments with the 
knife, everyone apparently knowing who had committed the theft. 

A little later one of the King island men, who was sitting close by 
nie, and who had traveled down the coast with the trader and myself 
the i>revious day, tried to steal a small article from me but was 
detected in the act, and I at once ordered him to leave the house. To 
this he paid no attention. I then seized him by the right arm, and 
when he saw that I was in earnest his face grew dark with passion, but 
he did not hesitate to take up his mittens and leave the room. He did 
not return during the day, but that evening when the people had left the 
room aild the trader and myself were ])reparing for bed, we noticed that 
the headman of the village was still seated l)y the entrance way on the 
other side of the room, although everyone else had left and the family 
occui)ying the house were asleep. Making down our beds upon the 
llooi-, we wrapped ourselves in the Ijlankets. "We had a suspicion that 
the cause of tlie headman's presence was due to the trouble that I had 
had with the King islander during the day, and I awoke several times 
during the night and found him sitting wakeful by the entrance h(de. 
About 3 oclock the next morning 1 was awakened by a slight noise, 
and, raising my head cautiously, heard someone creeping in through the 
l)assagew:iy. A moment later the head of the thief whom I had sent 
out and shamed before his companions the day before was thrust into 
the room. In an instant the watchful headman had taken him by the 
shoulder and spoke rajjidly to him in an undertone. In a few nunutes 
the King islander drew back and went away. The headman remained 
in his place until we arose in the morning. During the day we left 
the island and at a hut on the mainland encountered the same King 
islander, he having left the village immediately after going out of the 
liousc. 

1 have always considered that tlie watch kept by the headman dur- 
ing that idght was all that prevented an attempt by the King islander 
to obtain revenge for my having offended him. 

"When we came to the tirst hut on the mainland, upon our return 
from the island, the Eskimo living there urged us to remain all niglit, 
and when we refused to do this he insisted on our going in to eat some 
crabs and dried fish with him l)efore resuming our journey. 

Near Cape Darby we were welcomed in a cordial way and made to 
join in a feast of freshly killed seal, and in villages on the lower Yukon 
I met the same hospitable treatment. 

At some other places our reception was the reverse of thi.s. In the 



^"^'•^"^1 IIOSITIAMIV Of)7 

laruc village of Korii-iinu.-mnut, near tlit- ii.ontli of tlie KusUokuim 
I was given a v.-ry surly rccei)tion. aii.l it was alinosl ii.ressary for m,' 
to use Ibree before I could get anyone lo guide nu' to tli.- next villa-e 
On theeoutrary.at Askinuk and Kaiaiigainut, in tlie samedistri,i. Tlie 
peojile ran out at our aiiproacli. unharnessed our dogs. |,ut om- slrdgvs 
on the Craniework. and eanied our bedding iiito tin' kashini will, Hie 
greatest good will. 

At King island, in Bering strait, the same spirit was shown by the 
people during the visit ot'tlie Conritt. when they insisted on having us 
enter their l-.ouses. Tlieir at tention sometimes became embarrassing, 
as in one instance when I was stopjiiug in a house on the outer side of 
8t Michael island. An old man came home Irom lishingin t lie afternoon 
and was given a small tray containing toincod livers and bcrries.kneaded 
by his wife into a kind of jmste. From his trinket liox he look an old 
spoon fastened to a short wooden handle and began eating the mix 
ture with great pleasure, until he suddenly remembered that there was 
a guest present. At this he stopped eating and, wiping the bowl of the 
spoon on the toe of liks sealskin boot, gravely handed it and the dish 
to nie, wliereuiion 1 declined them with etpial gravit\ . 

That luorning 1 had fallen into the water while hunting, and as a 
coiiseiiuence remained in the house all day to dry my clothes. At one 
time or another during the day nearly everyone in the village came to 
see nie, and in every instance my hostess i)laced ;i few tomcods In-fore 
the callers. 

This practice of ofHering a small quantity of food to guests is con- 
sidered to be proper among the Eskimo. Wherever 1 visited them, 
and any people of the same village came in in a social way. they were 
given food, unless everyone was on the verge of famine. 

On October ;?, IS78, I arrived at Kigiktauik in a large kaiak witli two 
paddle men. As we drew near the village one of the men w-elcomed 
us by liringhis gun in the air, and then ran down to hel]) us land, alter 
which lie led the way to his house. The room was jiartly tilled with 
bags of seal oil and other food supplies, and the remaining space was 
soon occupied by a dozen or more villagers, who came to see us and 
were regaled with the tea that was left after I had finished my .supper, 
and soon after my blankets were taken to the kashim, where 1 retired. 

A small knot of Eskimo were gathered in the middle of the room 
around a blanket spread on the floor, and were deeiily interested in a 
game of poker, the stakes being musket cajis, which were used for chips. 
Scattered about on the floor and sleeiiiiig benches were a number 
of men and boys in varying stages of nudity, which was entirely justi- 
fied bv the oppressive heat arising from the bodies of the people coiigre- 
gated in the tightly closed room. Two small seal oil lamps, consisting 
of saucer shape clay dishes of oil with moss wicks, threw a dim light 
on the smoke-blackened Interior. In a short time the planks wen- 
taken up from over the tire pit, and a roaring lire was built lor a sweat 



-2!)8 THE Ef^KIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT |f.iii. ann. 18 

batli. The men and boys brou,i;iit in tbeir urine tubs, and wore loou- 
skiu cajts on their heads. Each one bad a respirator made of flue wood 
shavings woveu into a pad to hold in the teeth to cover the lips and 
nostrils, without which it would not have been possible for them to 
breathe iu the stitiing heat. When the wood had burned down to a 
bed of coals the cover was replaced over the sn:oke hole in the roof, 
and when the men had ])erspired enough they bathed and then went 
out to take a cold-water douche. 

In the winter of 1880 I traveled around the northern coast of Norton 
sound and found many of the villages on the verge of famine. This 
was due mainly to the fact that they had eaten most of their supplies 
early in the season, trusting to the weather being such that they could 
take sufQcieiit fish for their needs later on. As the winter turned out 
to be excessively severe, nearly all of the dogs along this coast were 
starved and the people were on very short allowance for a long time. 
Just north of Unalaklit I camped in a small hut 10 by 12 feet in area 
and 5i feet high in the middle. Three families were living in this 
house, and including my x)arty numbered sixteen adults who occupied 
the room that night. The air was so foul that when a candle was 
lighted it went out, and a match would tlare up and inunediately become 
extinguished as though dipi)ed in water. After making a hole iu one 
corner of the cover of the smoke hole the air became suflicieutly i)ure 
for us to pass the night without ill effect. 

At the village of I'haktolik, just beyond the last place mentioned, I 
found a room 15 by 20 feet in area and G feet high, where we numbered 
twenty-live i)eople during the night of our stay. 

Wherever we found the people with a small food supply they were 
usually (|uiet and depressed; but at a village on the northern shore of 
Norton sound, where food was plentiful, everyone appeared to be iu 
the greatest good humor. 

During the summer food is more abundant than in winter, and the 
people are more cheerful at that season and inclined to give a heartier 
welcome to a stranger. The winter season being one of possible famine, 
there is generally a slight feeling of uncertainty regarding the future. 

When we landed from the Corwln. at a summer trading village on 
the shore of Ilotham inlet, in Ivotzebue sound, we were surrounded at 
once by two or three hundred peoi)le, all shouting and smiling good 
naturedly. They crowded about us with the greatest curiosity, ami 
several at once volunteered to carry my camera and box of trading 
goods to one of the lodges. We walked along iu the midst of a rabble 
of fur clad figures and a great variety of strong odors which they 
exhaled. The dirty brown faces, ornamented with the huge stone 
labrets of the men and the tattooed chin lines of the women, were alive 
with animation; their mouths were wide open and their eyes glistened 
with curiosity and excitement. Before us moved a crowd of fat chil- 
dren, wlio tried to run ahead and look back at the same time, so that 



^"■'^'"1 IIOSI-ITALITV— STEALING 299 

they were constantly rallin- over or... anotlier. Knterin- one of tl,,. 
lodges where the owner had carried my stock of tradin- ..„o,ls I ,,ro. 
ceetled to purchase sn.d. cthiiolo-ical inaterial as was hrou-l,t me bv 
the people. 

The eao-eriiess to sec the strangers was s,) ;,Meat that a dense .n.wd 
ontside pressed against the trail walls of ihc lod-c until tiie (raiuc- 
work was broken in several places. .\t this the owner became olleiidcd 
and insisted on my giviiij; him a juesent to pay for the dama.u'e tlias 
done by his fellowvilla.iiers. 

AtCai.e Espenberj;- we landed at another summer villa-c of live 
lodges, where some thirty people were stoiiping. Several upturned 
sleds ami umiaks, and supplies of dried seal and walrus meat lay seat 
tered about, and :i tVoshly killed seal was lying under an old jtiece of 
sealskin. 

Fastened to stakes in a circle about tiie camp wereover twenty dogs, 
which set up a howl of welcome as we landed, their cries being joined 
by the voices of the children. The women and children ran down to 
the shore to meet ns, and the whole jjarty was very friendly. 

At Cai)e Lisbnrne we found a caini) of people from Point llojie. 
Nine niniaks were drawn up on the shore and braced up on one edge 
by sticks and paddles. Scattered about on the ground were seidskin 
bags of oil and large jiieces of walrus and whale meat. Just back of 
the umiaks were the cotiical and round-top lodges, where the men 
and the women of the camp were walking about or sitting in the sun, 
engaged in sewing or in other work. Tiicse people were dressed in fur 
clothing, which was very ragged and daubed with dirt and grease, 
presenting an extremely tilthy appearance. In one of the lodges an 
old woman, strijjped to the waist, was rolling up a bed. Ciiildren 
played about the lodges with small, fat i)iippics, and numerous well led 
dogs prowled listlessly through the camp. 

Between the lodges ran a clear, spat kling brook, entering the sea 
over the pebbly beach, and Just back of the camp rose high ditts, 
fronting the shore. 

Before we left they broke camp. The umiaks were launched, oil 
bags, tents, clothing, meat, and supplies were bundled into them, and 
several dogs being harnessed to the towline from each umiak, they 
started np the coast, a single pers(m from each umiak remaining on 
shore to drive the dogs. 

The people of the islands and shore of IJering strait and Kotzclme 
sound are notorious among the trading vessels for i)ilfering. On 
several occasions the villagers of Cape Prince of Wales lairl\- took 
possession of vessels with small crews, and carried ..If whatever they 
wished. 

While in the village at East cape, Siberia, tiie ciuldreii were con. 
stantly trving to steal small objects from me and r.'pcaiedly attem|.ted 
to take my handkerchief from my pocket. M Point Hope, while 1 was 



300 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

buying" ethnological specimeiis in tlie village, one of the men suddenly 
began talking and demanded some tobacco, saying that he had not 
been paid enougli for something which he had sold me. He assumed an 
air of anger and in a loud voice and with many gestures tried to bully 
me into giving him something additional; while he was motioning with 
Lis hands to emphasize his demands 1 noticed that he had concealed 
in his palm a small comb, which I at once recognized as having been 
stolen from my box of trading goods. I immediately grasped his wrist 
and wrested the comb from his baud, calling him a thief. His com- 
])anious, who had undoubtedly seen him take the article, laughed at 
liim in ridicule at his being caught, whereupon be slunk away without 
further word. 

As with all savages, the Eskimo are extremely sensitive to ridicule 
and are very quick to take oflense at real or seeming slights. 

When among their own tribesmen in large villages they frequently 
become obtrusive, and the energetic, athletic people about the 
shores of Bering strait and northward are inclined to become over- 
bearing and domineering when in sufficient numbers to warrant it. On 
the other hand, when traveling away tVom their native places in 
small numbers, among strangers, they become very quiet and mild- 
mannered. When we landed at Point Hope a great crowd of people 
came running down to the beach, crying, "(f-s/H', «-.s?»'," meaning "a 
present, a present,'' and caught hold of us on either side. They hung 
to our arms and clothing, (continually asking for presents. Two men 
ran along on each side of the cai)tain of the Coricin, begging for the 
gloves he wore, while others kei)t trying to steal some tobacco leaves 
which I was carrying under iny arm. 

The whalers give the people of this locality a bad repntation, as they 
do likewise those of Point Barrow. During the summer or our visit a 
whaling vessel was crushed by the ice pacik just off Point Barrow, and 
the crew threw upon the ice a large quantity of provisions, clothing, 
and other articles before the vessel sank. The Eskimo at the point 
had seen the accident and with their dog sleds hurried out to the 
wreck where they at once set to work to loot everything they could get 
hold of. They ran aloft like monkeys and cut away the sails, which, 
with the sails of the small boats, they carried ashore. 

They stole the clothes chests of the otlicers, the chronometers, charts, 
and the ship's books; the latter they tore up, and the next day, when 
the officers tried to recover some of their clothes, they refused to deliver 
them, and wore them about before the eyes of the owners. The 
wrecked crew went ashore and camped near the place occupied by the 
Eskimo, who were living upon canned meats and crackers from the 
ship's stores, and refused to permit any of the whalers to take any 
unless it was paid for with some of the small supply of tobacco which 
had been saved. As a consequence, the wrecked crew were forced to 
^ivc i\\\ what few things they had been able to save and were forced 



'' >IO|;al ClIARAf TKinsTK's 



301 

to live f..r some time u,,„„ .o.l a.ul w.hus n.eat. whil.. th.ir Iski,,,,, 
iiei.ubbors won- feastin- „,„.„ il... |„nvisi.,ns tro,„ tho un..k ' 

Owing totbo constant .laM,or .,n,..infr wroHu-.l at tl.is'point an.l 
ca..t ashore amon^- t .ese i....,,!.. the „halo,s ,■„..■ to onU.l ,l.em 
and coustautly make then, presents. The Hskiuu, re..o..„i/e this .s 
being a sort of ,,eaee otiering resnlting froni a leelin/or fear ami 
they are therefore insolent ami overbearing. When ihev .•im.. <.n 
board the Corwin they were sulky, and any .slight .■ontradiet'ion s.emed 
to render them very angry. 

The ^lalemut at the head of Kotzebue sound are another vi"or..us 
overbearing tribe. As among the Kskiino of lierin- strait thev are 
(liiarrelsome and liave frequent bloody alfrays among themselves " The 
Tnalit and Yukon people regard them with thegreatest fear ami hatred 
and say that they are like dogs— always showing their teeth and ready 
to tight. The Malemut are the only Kskimo wiio still keep u], theolll 
feud against the Tiiim^, and are a brave, hardy set of men. They are 
extremely reckless of human life, and a shaman was killed by "them 
during my residence at «t Michael, because, they said, -he told too 
many lies." 

They buy whisky from trading vessels and have drunken orgies, .lur- 
ing wbieb several persons are usually hurt or killed. In ISiii a fatal 
(piarrel of this kind took place on Kotzebue sound; the people said it 
was the fault of tbe Americans for .selling them whisky, and the rela- 
tives of tbe dead men threatened to kill with impunity the lirst white 
man they could in order to have blood revenge. 

They also bad the reputation of being extremely treacherous among 
themselves, not hesitating to kill one another, even of theii- own tribe, 
when opportunity otlered while hunting in the mountains— a gun or a 
few skins being sutticient inceidive. As a consequence, hunters among 
this tribe would not go into the mountains with each other, unless they 
chanced to be rehitives or had become companions by a sort of 
formal adoption. 

One intelligent INIalemut, who was a tine hunter, told me it was very 
bard work to hunt reindeer in the mountains, as a man could only 
slee]) a little, having to watch that other men did not surprise and kill 
biui. 

One wiuter, while prejiaring for a sledge journey into the .Alalenuit 
country, luy Unalit interpreter begged me not to go. saying that the 
3Ialemut were very bad i)eople. He was snon followed by the head- 
man of the Unalit at St ^lichael, who repeated tbe injunction, assuring 
me that tbe -'dogs of Malemut'" would surely kill me if I went. 

On the other baud, tbe Malemut des|)ise the I'lialit, saying that they 
are cowards and like children. When the Conriii anchored olf ("ape 
Prince of Wales in Bering strait, the |)eo|ile came olf to us in a nundjcr 
of umiaks. They baited at some distance from the vessel ami .shouted, 
" nukii-ruk; nuku-ruk," meaning •' good, good,"" in order to assure us of 



31)2 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann is 

their I'liciully disposition. When they were motioned to come along- 
side, tiiey approached hesitatingly until some of them recognized me, 
having seen me during a visit they had made to St Michael the previ- 
ous year. At this they began to shout vociferously to attract my 
attention, and immediately came ou board. This lack of confidence 
was caused by the fact that these i)eople had looted a small trading 
vessel the year before, and later in the same season, when they boarded 
a larger ship, they had been very roughly handled. 

When the trading umiaks from the shores of Bering strait made 
their summer visits to St aiichael, the people were always remarkably 
civil and (jaiet, in marked contrast to their manner when seen about 
their native place. At Cape Prince of Wales I went ashore in a small 
boat with a coui)le of men. On our way we met an umiak with twelve 
or fifteen paddlers; as they came near they turned and paddled straight 
at our little dingy, whooping and shouting at the top of their voices 
and coming so directly at us that I feared they would run us down. 
When within a boat's lengtli the jiaddle men on one side suddenly 
backed water while those of the other side made a heavy stroke, causing 
the big luniak to turn as on a pivot and shoot astern of us. As we 
landed several hundred people ran down to meet us and as many as 
could get hold of our boat seized it along the sides and dragged it some 
!!."> or 30 yards up the beach with us still seated in it; afterward, wlien 
I wished to go on board, it was otdy with the greatest dilliculty that I 
could get one of them to help launch the boat. 

As already noted, the people at Point Hoije were boisterous and 
confident when we saw them at home, but later in the season when we 
met several umiaks with people from that place near Cape Lisburne, 
tliey came within about 150 yards of the Corwiii and then all raised 
their empty hands over their heads, shouting ^^ nu-Jxii-riUi, nn-ki'i-nV,;" 
until the ofScer of the deck called to them, after which they came on 
board, but were very quiet. 

The ^Maleuiut extend their wanderings from Kotzebue sound even to 
Kuskokwim river and Bristol bay, but hardy as they are they have the 
same prudence in avoiding trouble while away from home. One case 
illustrating this came to my knowledge in connection with a party of 
them who were camping beside a village of Kuskokwim Eskimo. One 
of the INIalemut became enraged at a Kuskokwim man, and liastened 
into his tent to obtain a weapon. Two of his companions went after 
liim and tried to persuade him to give up his idea of revenge for the 
slight affront, but he refused to listen to them and went out. His two 
fellow tribesmen then took him, one by each arm, and wallied along, 
still trying to dissuade him from his project. When he again refused 
to listen to them, the man on his right suddenly drew his long sheath 
knife and slashed him in the abdomen, completely disemboweling him, 
so tliat he sank down and died in a few moments. In speaking of it 
afterward, the man who had done the killing said that if tliey had 



HKAD.MKX SKL1-- CONSTnTTKli 



303 



been a.nono- tl.dr own , 1.. ]„. woul.l „.,r k.v. int,.>fm..l.l.ut a.l.U..l- 

' ^ e wm, only a few nn.onj, tl,- Ku.kokwin. nu... an,l if ..u,- n.M.|M,.i„n 
bad kilU'd oneot tlunr men they w.mld have kille.l all „|- ,,s .,,,,1 i, 
was better that he slionld die.- ' 

It was not uneonnnon an.0.,0 the H.skinio. |,a.ti,nlarlv about the 

shores ot IJenn- strait at.d northward, for some n.an of ..',,,,1 e .-e 

and superior ability to -ather about him a eertain lollowin.' and th.m 
n.le tlie peoide throii-h fear: sneh n.en usnally eonrirm..d their powr 
by killing any one who opposed them, in or.ler to keep their loUnw. 
ers in a friendly mood, they made partienlar etVort to supply il„.m 
with an abundaiiee of food in times of seareity. or to -ive them inesents 
of elothins- at festivals: they also try to seeitre the -oo.l will ofwliite 
men whenever tbey think it to tiieir interest to do so. 

At Toint Hope we saw such a chief, who had killed tour ni.ii an.l 
had the entire village terrorized. The peoj.le were overawed by his 

courage and cunning, and liated him s( leh that a number of them 

went quietly to the captain of the Concin and l.eggeil him to carry the 
man away. 

During our stay at Point IU>\h- tiiis fellow was never seen without a 
ride in his hand, and the people said he always carried it. During the 
trading on the Goririn, whenever one of the villagers was ottered a fair 
ju'ice for one of his articles and began to haggle for a greater one. this 
man would ([uietly take the goods otfered and give them to the otlier. 
who would then accei)t them without another word. I tried to procure 
bis photograph, but he became very nervous and could not lie made to 
stand quiet, until be was told that it would be very bad for inm if he 
did not. As soon as I had taken his jjliotograph he insisted (ui having 
uie stand in th(^ same position that lie had taken while being ]>hoto- 
grai)hed. Then be looked under the cloth covering the camera, and 
when he saw my image on the grouiul glass he appeared to be greatly 
])]cased, seeming to think that he liad thus counteracted any ill clfect 
that might follow in his own case. 

While stopping at a village near tlic heail of Norton sound 1 was 
shown a man who was l)adly cripi)led, and my informant gave me the 
bistory of the manner in which he rec(!ived his injury. He went out 
with three companions hunting reindeer in the mountains, liack of the 
bead of Norton sound. At night they made canq). and placing a 
spruce log under a light shelter, all lay down, side by side, using the 
log for a i)illow. A man who entertained enmity against one of the 
party bad followed them from their own village: in the night, while tlicy 
were asleep, be crept uj) and tired his ritle into the head of the man 
upon one side iu such a manner that it was in line with tlic heads of 
the others, and the ball ])as.sed throngh the heads of three of tiu' men. 
killing them instantly. The other one sprang to his feet, luit before he 
could collect his wits he was struck <lowii by the clubbed gun in the 
bauds of the murderer, aud beaten until he api)eared to lie dead. The 



304 THE ESICnrO ABOTT BERIXG strait Ieth.ann. is 

inunkTcr then calmly returiKMl to the village as though nothing had 
hai>]>eiied. lu the cuiusc of the next twenty-four hours the mau who 
had been beaten uumaged to crawl back to the village, where, after a 
long illness, he finally recovered, but was badly crippled for life. The 
one who had done the killing made no further effort to molest him, and 
uo one attempted to aveuge him for the murder of the other three men. 
The murderer and the survivor continued to live in the same village 
for years. 

The Alaskan Eskimo, so far as I observed, have no recognized chiefs 
except such as gain a certain intlueuce over their fellow-villagers 
through superior shrewdness, wisdom, age, wealth, or shamanism. 
The old men are listened to with respect, and there are usually oue 
or more in each village who by their extended ac(iuaintauce with the 
traditions, customs, aud rites connected with the festivals, as well as 
beiug possessed of au unusual degree of common sense, are deferred to 
and act as chief advisers of the community. 

Ou the lower Yukou aud beyond to Kuskokwim river such leaders 
are termed niin-liil-. meauiug literally "the head." Among the Uiialit 
Eskimo they are called ari-a.!-i/u-];dk, "the oue to whom all listen." 

These terms are also applied to meu who gain a leadershii) by means 
of their greater shrewdness, whereby they become possessed of more 
property than their fellows, and by a Judicious distribution of food 
and their superior force of character obtain a higher standing and a 
certain fbllowiug among the people. 

The man who has accumulated much property, but is without ability 
to guide his fellows, is referred to merely as a rich man or tii-gn. 

All Eskimo villages have a headman, whose iutiueuce is obtained 
through the general belief of his fellow villagers in his superior ability 
and good judgment. These nuMi possess no fixed authority, but are 
respected, and their directions as to the movemeuts and occupations of 
the villagers are generally heeded. 

In some cases a headman may be sacceeded by his sou when the 
latter has the necessary qualities. An example of this was the Eskimo 
named Tiil-ya-lak, the headmau at Unalaklit, whose father had been 
one of the best headmen in that region. 

In some villages, where trading stations are established, the traders 
are accustomed to make a sort of chief by choosing meu who are 
friendly to the whites, and who at the same time have a certain amount 
of influence among their people. In order to have any standing in a 
position of this kind a mau must be endowed with a greater annmut 
of good sense and ability than the nnijority of his fellows. Usually 
these headmen have greater force of character than their associates 
and are either feared or liked by them; in either case their j)osition is 
assured. If at anytime another man shows superior ability or skill in 
promoting the welfare of the village, the older leader may be replaced 
by common consent. 



COX>i:(,I-KN( ES OF WEALTH 



3<I5 



Among the Malciuit. as also a.,,.,,,-- tl.e Kski,,,,. of l!..ri„jr strait in.l 
the adjacent Antic coast, an active trade is carrie.l on. 1„ thi. u-ion it 
IS comn,ou for the shrewdest man in each villase to accunml.t,. s".vcr,l 
hundreds of .U.iiars' worth of property and become a re.ogni/ed h. uh'-r 
among his fellows. 

The Eskimo are very jealous of anyone who accumulates nuich prop- 
erty, and m consequence these rich men. in order to retain the public 
good will, are forced to be very open-handed with the community and 
thus create a body of dependents. They make little festivals at wiiich 
are distnl)uted foo<l and other presents, so that the people appreciate 
the fact that it is to their interest to encourage the man in his ellorts 
towanl leadership, in order that they may be benelited thereby. 

In every trading expedition these men are usually the owners of the 
umiaks, and control the others, even to the extent of doing their trad- 
ing for them, bnt the authority of such a leader lasts only so l,>ng'as 
he is looked upon as a public benefactor. Such men make a poin't of 
gathering au abundant supply of food every summer in order that tliey 
may feed the needy and give numerous festivals during the winter. 
Sometimes they obtain a stronger intlucnce over the peoi)le by combin- 
ing the oflices of shaman with those of headman. 

Whenever a successful trader among them a<'cumulates property and 
food, and is known to work solely for his own welfare, and is careless 
of his fellow villagers, he becomes an object of envy and hatred which 
ends in one of two ways— the villagers may compel him to make a feast 
and distribute his goods, or they may kill him and divide his property 
among themselves. When the first dioice is given him he must give 
away all he possesses at the enforced festival and must then abandon 
the idea of accumulating more, under fear of bciug killed. If he is 
killed his property is distributed among the people, entirely regardless 
of the claims of his family, which is left destitute and deiicndent on 
the charity of others. This was done at the time of the killing of 
A-guu-apai'-ak, at Unalaklit. This man was a native of the Kaviak 
peninsula, on the coast of ISering strait, and had been forced to leave 
there after having killed a man, for fear of the dead man's relatives 
taking blood revenge. He had located at Inalaklit, and by his domi- 
neering character and ability as a tra<ler became one of the most prom- 
inent leaders among the peojile of that region. He plotted to capture 
and rob the trading station at St ^Michael, and was prevented from 
carrying out the plan only by the timidity these people manifest when 
dealing with white men. 

He constantly made trading voyages by umiak to llering strait in 
summer, and in winter made long sledge journeys. Wherever he went 
lie was accompanied by various hangers-on and was feared by the i)eople 
he visited. During my residence 1 knew of several murders he had 
committed, some of which were very atrociou.s. lu one instance ho 
IS ETH I'U 



SOG THE ESKIMO ABOfT liERIXG STRAIT [eth.axn. 18 

"W'islK'd to go to St Micliael iu bis umiak during the suiiiiiier, and being 
short of an oarsman he seized a woman living in Unahiklit and thrust 
Ler aboard the boat. The woman's husband was crippled so that he 
needed her services, and to prevent his wife from going he hurried 
down to the shore and tried to detain her. This enraged the headman, 
who drew his knife and killed the husband on the spot, and, leaving 
him where he lay, pushed off and made the trip, the wife serving at the 
oar (luiing the eutiie time. The following winter this man became 
extremely overbearing and very free with his threats toward various 
]>eople, and at last threatened the life of his brothei--in-law for having 
refused to Join in the murder of some people in order to get their furs. 
The brother in-law received information of this, and entering the man's 
house one night while he was sleeping, struck him on the head with an 
ax, killing him instantly. The niairs son, a grown youth, was sleeping 
iu the room and sprang up at the sound of the blow and was struck 
down by his uncle, who had just slain the father. After this occur- 
rence the i)eople of the surrounding villages felt greatly relieved. Yet, 
from that time forth, the man who had done the killing was constantly 
under the inlluence of fear from the expectation that blood revenge 
might be taken by relatives of the dead man. 

The nephew of tliis man killed a fur trader on Kuskokwim river 
in a very brutal manner and was arrested by the fur traders at St 
Michael iu the sj)riiig of 1.S77. His younger brother had been impli- 
cated in the murder, and as soon as Kilin'-ii-giin was arrested be turned 
to the men who took him, saying, " Kill me, but do not hurt my brother." 
lie kei)t repeating this, evidently thinking that the men wouhl execute 
vengeance on him at once. He was placed on board a vessel and sent 
to San Francisco, where he was condemned to live years' im[)ris()U- 
ment. There he was reported to have become an industrious workman 
and a favorite with the prison otticials. 

The men who aspire to be leaders make it a special point to ]H;t 
themselves as nearly as possible on an equal footing with white men, 
and become very sullen and angry if they are not treated with greater 
consideration than their fellows. 

From Bering strait northward the rich man becomes known as 
■ii'-mi-a'-Vik, or the umiak owner. During the time that war was car- 
ried on between the tribes the best warrior planned the attack, and 
was known among the Unalit as mi'ifiokh'-cliM. lie, however, had no 
fixed authority, as each one fought indejiendently of the others, but all 
combined in the general onslaught. An enemy was termed inn'-il-ix'- 
tu-(in, or '-one who is angry with me." 

One born in another village is termed a-iun'-tu. A stranger is tiin- 
■In'-ii-lu'ikh', or "seen the first time." This term is also applied to strange 
objects of any kind. A person belonging to the same clan is recog- 
nized as a relative, u-jo'-huk'. 

The Eskimo of I^Iorton sound speak of themselves as I'ti' j)'ik, meaning 



ISIIF.niTANCK FIi;sT GAMF. 



no 7 



fine or coinpleto people. An Ii..liaii. oiTinih'. is t.-iin.-d ii,.ki -l,l. |,,„n 

?/7'-/.-//.-. "a louse e-o-:- tliis is a t.rm ..f ,i,.ri>i n-lVniii- tn tl..- la-t 

tliat tlie loiio- liair of tiic Timir is coiiuiioiil.v lllled with il,o ..s oi' 

tliese paiasiU's. Tlie Kskiii.o pia.-tice llie tonsure, so that ilirir hair is 
not so eonsi.i.-mms as tliat of tl..' Tinn,-. Tho Russians aiv finu-.l 
l\'(in (ih; from Cos.saek; all otlicr whites ari' known as . I (/"(V .»/,-. 

Anionj-tlie Inalit, wiili the exceptions nicnlioncl hehin-. whai.'V.T 
a man Uiakes. or obtains hy hiuilinj;, is his own. 

When a man dies some of his inii)len)ents aTid oihrr arlich-s arc 
])lace<l by his -rave and the remainder are divided anion;; his children 
and other lelatives. the former usually leceiviiii; the larger shaie. The 
wife .generally makes the distribution soon after her husband's death, 
often on the day of tlie funeral, lii some <ases. however, if a mans 
blood relatives are ^'leedy. tliey make tin- division anions themselves. 
leaving \ery little for the lamily. 

To the sons usually ])ass the hiintiiis- iiiiiilemeiits. while the orna- 
ments and househidd articles ^o to the wife and daughters. If there 
are several sons the eldest ^et the least, the most valualile things 
beins yiven to the youngest. Articles of particular value, such as 
lieirloonis (^>«/-^»/i). <;o to the youngest son. as does also the falhei's 
rlHe, which, however, is used by the eldest brother until the younger 
cue is old enough to use it. 

A\'hen a man dies his sons, if old enough, support the family; other- 
wise they are cared for by relatives. 

The most jtroductive places for setting seal and salmon nets are cer- 
tain rocky points which guard the entrances to bays. The right to use 
tliem is regarded as personal [iroperty. and is handed down IVom fatlier 
to Son. After the death of the father the soi's use the.se places in com- 
moil until all of the brothers, save one, get new places at unoccujiied 
points, if anyone else puts a net in one of these places the original 
owner is iieruiitted to take it <Hit and |)ut down his own. These net 
jilaees are smnetiiues rented or given out on shares, when the man who 
allows another to use his place is entitled to half the catch. 

The tir.st deer. .seal, white whale, or other kind of large game killed 
by a young man is brought to the village, and there one of the old men 
cuts it np and divides it among the villagers, without leaving a jiartiele 
for the young hunter: this is done, they .say, that the young man may 
be successful afterward in hunting. If a net is set for any particular 
game and .something else is caught, the latter also is divided aiiKmg 
the villagers in the same way, it being .said that if this is done other 
animals of the same kind will come to the net. This is the practice 
when a white whale is caught in a seal net or a seal in a salmon net. 

Seals killed with gun or spear may be taken at.imce to the vilhige, 
but all seals taken in nets in the fall must be stored in a cache built of 
stones and covered with logs anil stones. Tliese storage places are 
built ou the shore near the places where the nets are set. The .ache 



308 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

is called In-u-nnl-'. If a seal carcass is taken from the uettiug place 
or from the caclie and carried to the village beftire the netting season 
is over, it is claimed that all the other seals will know it and become 
angry, so that no more will be taken during that season. 

If meat is needed a i^iece of flesh may be cut from the seals and 
carried overland to the village, but a person must be very cautions 
and keep away from the shore. At the close of the netting season tlie 
seal bodies may be taken from the cache and carried to the village by 
water. 

The idea that unexpected game is a kind of treasure trove is firmly 
fixed in the minds of these iDCople. On occasions when I sent men out 
to shoot wiiterfowl and they chanced to kill a seal they always consid- 
ered the latter their own property, although they were hired to hunt 
and were paid for their time. In such instances if I obtained the seal 
it was by paying for it in addition to the regular wages. Their invari- 
able reply when asked about this would be: "You said nothing about 
killing a seal, so it is mine." 

On one occasion, while stopping for a short time in a small village 
just west of Cape Darby, on the shore of Norton sound, I refused to 
buy the ivory carvings and other ethnological specimens oflered, telling 
the villagers that I would return in a few days and buy the things they 
had to sell. On my return I found the entire village was otiendcd at 
my having refused to buy their articles on the former visit, and not one 
of them would trade with me. 

As a rule the Eskimo sold their implements and ivory carvings at 
prices fixed by myself and seemed to regard it as a gi'eat piece of sport 
that anyone would be simple enough to purchase such objects. At 
Sabotuisky, on the Yukon, the people took whatever I offered, and 
laughed over obtaining such prizes as needles, buttons, tobacco, etc, 
in exchange for such objects, saying that I was giving away my goods. 

In large villages the people would frequently struggle to get within 
reach of me, each striving to be first, saying that my goods would be 
gone before they could get any of them. At a village on the lower 
Y'ukon it was amusing to witness the absurd delight some of the natives 
exhibited when I bought their carvings and other small objects. 

About St Michael the children were always pleased to be employed 
on little errands or jobs of light work, and they were eager to trap and 
bring me mice and shrews for specimens. They were given in return 
gun caps, matches, or ship's bread, and the deliberate gravity with 
which some of them would decide what they would have for a mouse 
was very amusing. They are very mischievous in a quiet way, delight- 
ing in petty practical jokes on one another. One day I surprised a boy 
10 years of age who was following close behind me mimicking my 
motions, while his comrades stood at a safe distance greatly enter- 
tained by the performance. 

The young men are cheerful, light-hearted, and fond of jokes and 



NELsox] IU-M(.i;— TRALIN,;— TI!EATMi:XT OF msF.ASE 300 

amusement. Durins my l.nntino- excursions, wlienever I In.l s.Mvril 
youn.u men along they were cm.tinually teliinj; stories. j„kiu.. sin.nu". 
etc. When m can,], an.l .l.uin.o- allnisht festivals iu winier i" iVe! 
quently heard them laugii at one another for being sk'ei.v Vt ..ne 
ot the bhid.ler feasts a young fellow who conhl scarcely keep his eves 
open replied to the sallies made at ids expense by .saying that he s'nv 
three of everything he looked at an.l accused his comra.le sitting next 
to him ot being unal)le to lind Ids numth with the Im.d before idin 

Among the furs offered us at Point Hope was the skin of an Arctic 
bare with the tail of a fox sewed upon it as a practical joke. Alter 
they bad sold all of th.-ir valuable articles, they were persistent in 
ottering worthless tilings, and would laugh heartily when these were 
rejected. The same men would return again and again, repeatedly 
ottering something whicli lia.l been refused, and seemed to be grt^tlv 
amused each time. 

They are quick to express their ideas by signs when dealing with 
people who do not understand their language. At Point Hope the 
men kept holding up their bauds together in a cupshape position, 
locking the palms and wagging their heads from .side to side in a droll 
way to indicate that they wislied to get some wlusky with wliich to 
become drunk. 

On the lower Yukon and southward there is a tra<liug custom known 
as jM-tuW 4 1'ik. When a person wishes to start one of these he takes 
some article into the kashim and gives it to the man with whom he 
wishes to trade, saying at the .same time, "It is a pit tuklt'-ti'ih:^' The 
otber is bound to receive it, and give in return some article of about 
eipial value; the tirst man then brings something el.se, and so they 
alternate until, sometimes, two men will exchange nearly eveiything 
they originally possessed; the mau who received the tirst i)resent being 
bound to continue until the originator wishes to stop. 

The fur traders sometimes talce advantage of this custom to force an 
Eskimo to trade his furs when tliey can get them iu no other way. A 
fur trader told me of securing in this way from one man the skins of 
30 mink, 8 land otters, 4 seals, and - cups and saucers; tinally the 
Eskimo wished to give his rille. l)ut at tliMt tlie trader stopped the 
transaction. 

TJfEATMlOXT OK DISKASE 

In treating di.sea.ses the most common method is for the shanums to 
perform certain incantations. There are cases, however, in which more 
direct methods are pursued; blood letting is commonly i)racticed to 
relieve intlamed or aching portions of the body. Foi- this jjurpose 
small lancets of stone or iron are used. In one instance 1 saw a man 
lancing the scalp of his little girl's head, the long, thin, iron point of 
the instrument being thrust twelve or lifteen times between the scalp 
and the skull. 



310 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BKRING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 13 




Oue of these lancets (figiire 07) was obtained on tlie nortlier 
ot Norton sonud. It is a small, tliin, double edge blade, of liar 

jreenisli 



Miiicli is inserted in the split end of a short wooden handle 
and wrajiped tightly with a strong sinew cord. I saw other 
old instruments of this kind made of slate, but at ])resent 
most of Mie lancets are similar in shai)e but are made of iron. 

An ac'liiiig tooth is extracted by placing the square point 
of a ]iiece of deerhorn against it and striking the other end 
a sharp blow with an object used as a mallet. 

On the islands in Bering strait I saw men using long- 
handle scratchers to relieve iriitation caused by erui)tions 
on the skin or by parasites. Figure US illustrates oue of 
these implemeuts which was obtained on Sledge island. It 
consists of a wooden rod about 17 inches in length, having a 
thin-edge ivory disk an inch iu diameter titled on one end. 
In the collection obtained in Labrador by Mr L. M. Turner, 
there is a specimen of a similar instrument. 

MOliTl'AUY CUSTOMS 

The burial cust'iins of the l'>skiino with wlioiii 1 came in con- 
tact vary so greatly that I have given in detail an account 
of the observances noted in different localities, beginning with 
the Unalitat St Jlichael. 

The following arc Uiialit terms used by the St Michael 
people : 



u shore 
d, pale- 
stoue, 
and an 

length, 



Corps.- 
Spirit ( 


r slia 


le 


/» -/. 

((/-(/ 


Ciliost, 


or vi^ 


il)l... sliailf 


u-lh 


<irave 






kun- 



-m.il -«■-</■ 


-a 


(lea 


1 oue) 


n li-ijhuk 








iil.h-tok. 









When a person dies daring the day his relatives, amid loud 
wailing, proceed at once to dress him in the best clothing 
they possess, using, if jxissible, garments that have never 
been worn. Should the death take i)lace at night, the body 
is not dressed until Just at sunrise the following morning. 
Some of the male relatives or frieuds go out and make a 
rude box of drift logs in the usual burial place, which is a 
short distance back of the village. During this time the 
body lies in its x)lace on the sleeping platform, with the oil 
lamp burning day and night close by, until the burial, while the rel- 
atives and friends sit about on other sleeping benches. When the box 



Fl(i. 9S- Hack 
si-ratch.-i (J). 



Mi>i;Tr.\K-V ( ISTOMS 



311 



IS completed, i'itUev on Mio s-.xuw .hiy <,r tluMU-xt, tl.u l.o.lv i. „1 ,r...| 
in a s.ltiMs post.uv with th. luvls dnuvn ba.k UKains, .h.. l,,,;.,,,,! 
tlie knees rest,no- against ,|,e .-lu.sr: tl,.- Hl,„ws a,v .l.ann ,I„um 
asainst the sides, and the to.eanns and hands aie bent so as i„ rl-.s,, 
the abdomen, tlie liuht hand and arm bein- placed above tl... left 
Fi-nre fW shows tlie position of the Ix.dy leadv (or burial It is then 
wrapped in -rass mats or deerskins and bonnd tiulitiv with rawhide 
cords. By means of cords the body is nsnalivraiseillhron.di the smoke 
hole in the roof, but is never taken out by the doorwav." Shonhl the 
smoke hole be too snnill, an openino- is „i;„le in the rear side of thr house 
and then closed a-ain. The body is taken to the -rave an.l placed 
npon one side in the box, bel,,w it bein- placed the deerskin bed of 
the deceased, and over it his blank.'ts. If the deceased be a man. his 
pipe, flint and steel, tinder, and pouch of l,,bacco are i.laced in the box, 
and, if a snuff taker, his snnll box and lube. Then the cover (d' rou-ii 
planks or hij^s is put (ni and I'astencil down 
with lofj-s or stones. In case of a man, his pad 
die is planted blade upward In llie ground near 
by, or is lashed to a corner post of the box itself. 
so that the relatives and friends may see the 
it' ltliii-i(h- or totem mark, and thus know whose 
remains lie theie. 

Jf the grave box is made of planks the tolem 
pi(;ture is usually drawn npon its front in reil or 
black, or sometimes the front bears the picture 
of some animal which the father of tlie dead 
man excelled in huntinj;. If the father took 
part in a war i)arty against the common enemy 
of his tribe, then the figure of a bow is jiainted 
on the box. Should this re(!ej)tacle be of such ' ' ',i"\i,''i7,II''"i mk'i'",™ "^ 
a nature as not to permit tlie making of pic- 
tures upon its surface, they are drawn on a small piece of board made 
for the imrpose and fastened to the end of a stick live or six leet long, 
and the latter is planted at the side or at one end of the box. In a con- 
spicuous jdaee on a corner jiost of the gra\e, or on jiosts set u|) for 
the pur])0se, are iilaccd the dead man's snowshoes, spears, bow and 
arrows, or gun; upon the ground liy the gra\e is laid his open work 
bag, with all the small tools in place, and his kaiak frame is set 
close by. 

Should the deceased be a woman, her workbag. needlo, lliiead, and 
lisli knife are placed beside her in the box. Iler wooden dishes, pots, 
and other belongings are placed by the grave, and to the corner post 
are hung her metal bracelets, deer tooth belt, and favorite wood.'ii dish, 
and sometimes a fish knife. The markings 11)1011 the grave box. or on 
the small board made for the piirpo-e, are those of her family totem, 
or illustrate the exploits of her father, as is done in (he case of a man. 




312 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth..ixn. 18 

These customs, with ceitaiu varintioos, are still observed. At St 
Micbael I saw a father's grave marked -with bis totem picture, wliile 
on tbe grave box of bis sou close by was the picture of tbe auimal 
wbicb tbe fatber bad excelled in bnutiug. 

Wben tbe grave witb its various belougiugs is arranged, tbe rela- 
tives make small offerings of food of different kinds, and pour water on 
tbe ground beside it, after wbicb all go boine. 

During tbe day on wbicb a person dies in tbe village no one is per- 
mitted to work, and tbe relatives must perform no labor during tbe 
tbree following days. It is especially forbidden during this i)eriod to 
cut witb any edged iustrument, sucb as a knife or an ax; and tbe use 
of pointed instruments, like needles or bodkins, is also forbidden. This 
is said to be done to avoid cutting or injuring tbe sbade, wbicb may be 
present at any time during tbis period, and, if accidentally injured by 
any of these things, it would become very angry and bring sickness or 
death to the people. The relatives must also be very careful at this 
time not to make any loud or harsh noises that may startle or anger 
the shade. 

In ancient times the Unalit of tbis vicinity exposed their dead on 
tbe ojjcu tundra back of the village, throwing their weajions and tools 
beside them. It was the custom to lay tbe body at full length on its 
back and plant two slicks about three feet long, one on each side of the 
bead, so that they would cross over tbe tace. The old man who told 
me tbis said that everyone used to be thrown on the ground in this 
manner, but he thought that it was from seeing tbe grave boxes made 
for tbe dead in other places that the Unalit bad been led to adopt tbe 
present custom. Tbe use of grave boxes undoubtedly came from the 
south, as it was observed that their greatest elaboration was fouud 
south of the territory occupied by the Unalit, while to tbe northward 
tbe Maleuuit still throw out many of their dead. My informant added 
that it was better to keep the dead in grave boxes, for it kejtt their 
shades from wandering about as they used to do; besides, it was bad 
to have the dogs eat tbe bodies. 

If the deceased was a hunter, tbe totem of bis father was usually 
painted on his grave box at the time of tbe burial, but if be was not a 
hunter tliis totem picture was not made on the box until the stake of 
invitation to the feast of tbe dead was planted by the grave tbe follow- 
ing winter. (See account of festivals to tbe dead.) If tbe person was 
disliked, or was without relafives to make a feast, no totem markings 
were put on the box. If be was a very bad man be was buried in a box, 
while food and water were offered to tbe shade; but no weapons or 
other marks of resjiect were placed beside the grave, no feast was made 
to bis memory, and be was forgotten. 

About eight miles from tbe Ailhige of Kigiktauik I saw the remains 
of a body witb a sled. My Eskimo companions told me it was the 
body of a man who had died in the village from a loathsome disease, 



NELSON] 



MOinrAK'V CrsTO.MS 



and the people l.ad brought it „ut theiv and ahando,,..! it wit 
attendant observances. 

An.ong the Unalit the graveyard is usually quite elose to one 
the village, generally behin.l i, or on a sn.al adiaeent kno I 
.lu.tn.t.on (hgure I..,.) ,Von. a photograph taken neLr s\n ' 
show the method of disposing of the dead in that vi.initv 

i:>urmg my residence at St Michael a shaman .lied, and 'the loll 
notes Mere made on the observances that followed- 



313 

lOMt any 

Mdeof 

The 

1. will 




In consideration of the fact tliat the deceased liad been a shaman. 
110 one did any work in the village for three days following his death. 
The body, however, had been jirepared and placed iii the grave box 
on the morning that he died. The night following, when the jieople 
prepared to retire, each man in the village took liis urine tub and 
poured a little of its contents upon the ground before the door saying, 
'•This is our water; drink"— believing that shouhl the shade return 
during the night and try to enter, it would taste this water and, lindiiig 
it bad, would go away. 



314 



THE KSKIMO ABorX r.KKINU STRAIT 



Duri II ji- the first day after the deatli everj'oiie near the village was 
said to be soft and nerveless, with very slight power of resistance, so 
that any evil iiitliieiice could injure him easily; but the next day the 
l)eoi)le said they were a little harder than before, and on the third day 
the body was becoiiiiiig frozen, so that they were approaching hardi- 
ness again. 

On the evening of the second day the men in every house in the vil- 
lage took their urine buckets and, turning them bottom upward, went 
about the house, thrusting the bottom of the vessel into every corner 
and iTito the smokehole and the doorway. This, it was said, was done to 
drive out the shade if it should be in the house, and from this custom 
the second day of mourning is called (hlihnl'-if/-nt, or " the bottom day." 
After this was done and the people were ready to retire for the night 
every man took a long grass stem and, bending it, stuck both ends into 
the ground in a cons])icuous i)lace in the middle of tiie doorway. They 
said this would frighten the spirit off, for should it come about and 
try to enter the house it would see this bent 
grass, and, believing it to be a snare, would 
go away, fearing to be caught. On the 
third morning, before eating, every man, 
woman, and child in the village bathed in 
urine, which cleansed them of any evil that 
might have gathered about their persons, 
and also rendered their tlesh tirm, so that 
they were hardy and able to withstand the 
ordinary influence of the shade. 

On the lower Yukon, below Ikogniut, the 
following customs were observed: 
^'"■'"'Tn'ittwI'rYukl.r'"'^'"'" Tlicse pcoplc are very averse to hav- 
ing a dead body in the house, and the 
corpse is placed in the grave box at the earliest possible moment. 
This is so marked that the relatives freijuently dress the person in the 
new burial clothing wldle he is dying in order that he may be removed 
immediately after death. After death the body is placed in a sitting 
posture on the floor; the knees are drawn up and the feet back, so that 
the knees rest against the chest and the heels against the hijjs; then 
the head is forced down between the knees until tlie back of the neck 
is on a line with the to[is of the knees; the arms are drawn around 
encircling the legs above the ankles and just under the forehead. It 
is then tied with strong cords to hold it in this position and drawn up 
through the smoke hole in the roof and carried to the graveyard, where 
it is placed upon the top of an old grave box while one is being made 
for it. Figure 101 illustrates the position of the body ready for burial. 
When the box is ready, usually the next day, the body is placed in it 
npon a deerskin bed, while other deerskins or cloth covers are thrown 
over it. All of the small tools of the deceased are placed in the box 




MOIMLAIJV ClSTD.MS 



315 



and a cover 01 rouo-h planks is ra.t,,,...l ,l,.wn ovor tl,.. I,,,. w,tl, u,„„l,.„ 
in'gs. Just hctbn. 11,,. b.„iy is |,la,-..,l i„ ihe h„x tlir r.vd. iha, l,i,„l ,t 
are cut. .u or.ler. tiu.y say. .hat ti„. sl,a,l.. may r..nnn a,,,] o.tu,.v .!,.■ 
body and move about it ncccssarv. 

The -rave b..xes in this viHnity are made ot hewn slabs ,„• |,|,„|,s 
s,|uared at the ends, and suppoited by a .stout eentral pure iVum 
below, and Ire-iuently will, lour eonu-r posts, which ..xten.l scne dis 
tanee above the box. None of the relatives toueli the bodv. this ^^„vk 
being done by others. The housemates of the deceased nuist remain 
in tbeir accustomed places m the house diiriiiy the lour days Iblhiwin.' 
the death, while the sha.le is believed to be still about. Duiin- this 
time all of them must keep fur hoods drawn over their heads to pie 
veut the iutiuenceot the shade tVom enterin.u- their heads and killing 
them. At oiu-e. after tlie body is taken out of the house, his sleeping 
place must be swejit clean ami piled lull of bags and other things, so 
as not to leave any room tor the 
shade to return and reoccupy 
it. At the same time the two 
persons who sh'pt with him 
uiion ea(di side musr not, upon 
any account, leave their i)la(es. 
It tbey were to do so the shade 
might return and, by occujiy- 
ing a vacant |)lace, biiug sick- 
ues.s or death to its origimil 
owner or to the inmates of the 
house. For this reason none of 
the dead i>erson"s housemates - - 
are permitted to go outside 
during the four days following 
the death. I'he deceased per- 
.son's nearest relatives cut thi'ir hair short along the forehead in sign ol 
niourinng. 

During the four days that the shade is thought to remain with the 
body iu)ue of the lelatives are ixuiuitted to use any sharj) edge or 
pointed instrunuMit for fear of injuring the shade ami causing it to 
become angry and to bring misfortune upon them. One old man said 
that should the relatives cut anything with a sharp instrument iliir- 
iiig this time, it would be as though he hail cut his own shade and 
would die. 

Near the ujjper end of the Yukon delta is a small graveyard in 
whicb was seen a newly made box placed overall old one made for a 
member of the same family. This new box was made of heavy hewn 
plauk.s, painted red, and supported about a loot above the old one by 
the same .set of corner |)osts, as .shown in ligure Uli', 

To the pole erected before this grave were atiacheil a cup, a spoon 




.■,. Vi:L..:i (I.'ll 



316 



THE ESKIMO AliOrX I'.ERIXG STRAIT 



aud a kaiak paddle, and a pair of iiiiiiak oars were placed against 
the box, which contained the body of a boy, the son of an old man in 
the village, who, it was said, was i)rohibited from doing any work for 
three moons following the death of his sou. 

At each end of the boxes at this place was erected a post, to the top 
of which was fastened a cross board bearing some articles of ornament 
or of value belonging to tlie deceased. The boxes were all supported 
two feet or more above the ground by corner posts, which extended 
several feet above their tops. 

At Eazbiuskj'the graveyard is placed immediately behind tlie kashim 
iu the winter village, so near that the odor arising from the bodies 
becomes almost unbearable iu the warm weather when spring opens. 
These grave boxes are well made and are ranged roughlj' iu rows, 
forming an irregular S(juare. At the time of my visit there were about 

thirty of them, some of which are 
shown in plate xci. 

They were made of hewn planks 
about 3i by 3 feet in horizontal 
measurement and 2 feet deep, and 
were raised nbout two feet from 
the ground on corner posts, with 
:i tlfth support formed by the 
butts of small trees so ]ilanted 
that the s]ireadingi-(»()ts upturned 
supported the bottoms of the 
boxes, which were all jiainted red, 
and the posts were banded with 
the same color. The fronts of the 
boxes were ornamented with rows 
of bone pegs, as shown in the 
illustration (figure lO.'j), and the corner posts were also ornamented in 
the same manner. 

On some of the boxes were rude figures in black of a niau shooting 
with bow aud arrow at a deer or bear. The number and arrangement 
of the bone pegs varied, but the genei'al plan was the same. 

At liazbinsky most of the utensils of the deceased were placed in the 
boxes with the bodies. A few old reindeer horus and some posts bear- 
ing invitation efligies for the feast to the dead were the main objects to 
be seen about these boxes. Beside some of them, however, were hewu 
boards five or six feet long, sujiported six or seven feet from the ground 
on two posts, and bearing the ligures of skins of animals and other 
objects on their fronts. 

At the village of Starikwikhpak, just below Itazbinsky, weie two 
grave boxes almost exactly like those just described. On the front of 
one of them was a large figure in black, representing a man shooting 
with bow and arrow at a reindeer. 




Fir. 10:i— Biui^il Imx :lt Kazlii 



NP--0., MORTUARY CUSTOMS— MEMOIMAL IMACKS 31 7 

At Knsliuunk. near Caim Vancuvor. tlu> d.,,.! a.o placed wi,l, ,1,.. 
knee.s drawn up agau.st the .hest, and the wrists are erossed and tied ,0 
the ankles ,n front. Ihey are then buried in rude boxes, n.ade of sn.all 
dritt logs, whieb are built on the Rronnd near the villatre. Abont and 
upon the boxes are plaeed the tools and weaix.ns „f the dee,- is,.d 

Tununnk villa-e. at Cape Vaneouver. faces the sea: on a'sn.a'll Hat 
and about L'(» yards in front of the entrance to the kashin,. betwe,.n'it 
and the sea, were three large wooden posts, representing hnnum tic- 
ures, and several subordinate posts. They were of drilt logs, H or 7 
feet high by ll' to 1.5 inches in diameter, without bark, and not 'carved 
except on the top. These were ranged in a row parallel to the beach 
and across the front of the kashini. Tlie top „f each post was carved 
to represent a hunnui head and ne.'k. Conniiencing on the left, as I 
faced them, the following account describes them in succession: 

The first iwst had its head (covered with tlie remains of a fur hood, 
such as is worn by the people of this vicinity. Tlie mouth and eyes 




Fn^ 1U4— :MeMi. 



were made of ivory, inlaid in the wood; from each shouhler of the fig- 
ure a walrus tusk curved outward and upward to represent ar)us. 
These tusks were uotched above to form ])la<'es for hanging objects; 
that on the right side bore suspended from it an ivory-handle lisli 
knife, and near the body weie several iron bracelets. From the ti|) of 
the left arm hung a snmll wooden dish, and nearer the body were more 
iron bracelets. About where the hips should be was another i)air of 
walrus tusks inserted i)arallel to the u])per ones, representing legs. 
The post was painted in broad, alternating bands of colors, commenc- 
ing at the head aud going down in tlie following order, namely, red. 
white, black, white, red. To the left of this was a plain, upright post, 
to wiiich liuug an irou bucket, and on the ground lu-ar its base was a 
wooden box containing a woman's workbag ami outfit of clothing. 

The next large post represented a man, whose mouth and eyes were 
of inlaid ivory, and with tusks for arms and legs, as in the post first 
described. Two large bead labrets were at the corners of the mouth. 



318 THE F.i^KIMO Al'.orT I'.ERIMG STRAIT [eth.anx.1S 

At the Inise of this post a bow and quiver of arrows were fastened. 
Jusl heliind it was a box full of uijin's elotliiu,-;' and small tools. 

On ;i .^uKill post to the right there was a wooden model of an umiak, 
and on another post to the left were five wooden models of kaiaks. 
("lose to these last was another post, bearing on the board across its top 
nine images of the large hair seal. A fourth post bore a model of a 
kaiidc.in which was a man holding a spear poised ready to cast. These 
.symbols were e.vplained to ine as follows: The umiak and kaiak models 
showed that the jiersou represented had made and owned these boats. 
The nine hair seals were the result of his greatest day's iiunting, and 
the kaiak with the man seated in it showed that he had been a hunter 
at sea. 

The third large post was very old and dilapidated fn-m long expo- 
sure. Its mouth, eyes, and arms, like the others, were of ivory, but it 
was not provided with legs. On two posts close by were models of a 
large hair seal and a I'eindeer, with a third post to the right bearing 
the figure of a man in a kaiak with poised spear. This man was said 
to have been a good hunter both on land and at sea, esjiecially at sea. 

These posts (figure 104) were said to represent people who had been 
lost and their bodies never recovered. The first imst was for a woman 
who had been buried by a landslide in the mountains, while the men 
were drowned at sea. I was told that among the people of this and 
neighboring villages, as well as of the villages about Big lake, in the 
interior from this point, it is the custom to erect memorial posts for all 
•people who die in such a manner that their bodies are not recovered. 

Each year for five years succeeding the death a new fur coat or cloth 
shirt is put on the figure at the time of invitation to the festival for the 
dead, and offerings are made to it as though the body of the deceased 
were in its grave box there. When the shade comes about the village 
to attend the festival to the dead, or at other times, these i)0sts are 
supposed to afford it a resting i)lace, and it sees that it has not been 
forgotten or left unhonored by its relatives. 

At several villages between Cape Vancouver and the mouth of 
Kuskokwim river were found grave boxes rudely made of driftwood, 
and about them were placed the usual display of guns, bows and arrows, 
paddles, and similar objects. 

At the next village to the south, beyond Cape Vancouver, the graves 
were locateil on a high kuoU overlooking the village, and were unusually 
conspicuous on account of the long poles of driftwood which were 
erected near each, and to the tojis of which an ax or a gun was 
usually fastened crosswise. 

At Big lake village,on the tundra, midway between Yukon and Kusko- 
kwim rivers, are a uuud)er of small wooden figures similar in character 
to those above described, and, like them, raised in honor of people whose 
bodies were lost. In front of many of the graves at this place were large 
headboards, made of hewn planks about four feet long, placed across 



Mr.MiiRiAi. i',oAi;i>s — siiAur, 



31[) 



the top of two upriol.t posts. To tl,. Mnd.llo of tlu'se w.,e ),i„M..,i ,, 

two to three wooden n.askoi.Is. n.p,es,.„tinjr human laees «i,l, i„,aicl 
ivory eyes ancl nn.uths: (Von. holos o, po«s at the ears l„,n. sn.all 
strn.gs „ beads, sneh as the vill;,,,,.s wear, and hHow the nu.sU u,..e 
head neekhu-es, some ot the latler heinjj very vah.able Iron, the Kski„,o 
point ot view. Tlieaeeon.panyino- ilhistration {lij;ure Ki.V, fVoni i sk.-td. 
made on tlie spot. sl,ows twool thes,. niaskoids. The -raveyard d this 
idace was very curhms. havin.- a hir-e nunduTof n.askoi.ls and imi.....s 
with curious ornamentation, hut I was ui.ahh- to n'Miain h.n- iMuiiMi 
to give it a thorou^ii examination. " " 

I wasiidbrmed that tlie giav.'yardsof the viUa-eson the Kuskokwim 
behjw Kohiiakof Uedoubt. are full of remarkable iiua-es of carved 
wood. < )iie was described 
to nie as being roofed 
with wooden slabs, and 
consisted of a life size 
figure, with round face, 
narrow slits for eyes, and 
four hands like a Hindoo 
idol. Two of the hands 
held a tin jilate each for 
voti\e olVerings. and the 
body was dressed in a 
new white shirt and bore 
elaborate bead onia- 
ineuts. The abundance 
of carved figures in the 
graveyards of this dis- 
trict, as was noted also 
among those of the adja- 
cent Tiiine of the lower 
Yukon, is very remarka- 
ble, and their use does 

uot e.Kteud northward of tlie Yulion in a single instance, so far 
be learned. 

Oil lower Knskokwim river the l^skimo believe that the shade of a 
male stays with the l)ody until the liflh day alter his death: the shade 
of a female remains with the body for four days. On the Yukon and 
among the Eskimo to the nnrtli the shades of men and women alike 
are l)elieved to remain with the body lour days alter death. Throngh- 
out this region the villagers abstain from all work on the day of the 
death, and in many places the day following is snuilarly observed. 
None of the relatives of the deceased must do any work during the 
entire time in w 

Along the coast north of St Michael the 
the mode of burial. On the beach nearCapi 




iild 



hich the shaile is believed to remain with the body, 

much lessclalMPiation in 
Nome, on I he iiorihcrn 



320 



THE ES^KTMO ABOUT liEKING STRAIT 



shore of Norton souud, several suiumer fishing camps were located, and 
among these were a few rude graves made by building up slight 
inclosures of drift logs and covering them with similar material. At 
one place in this vicinity was a cone-shajie iiielosure made by standing 
drift logs on end in a circle eight or nine feet in diameter, with their 
upper ends meeting. From the top of this projected a long pole, and 
inside was a wooden box containing the remains of a shaman, swung 
by cords midway between the ground and the top of the structure. 
This man, I was told, had caused himself to be burned alive two years 
before the time of my visit, in the expectation of returning to life with 
much stronger powers than he had i>reviously possessed ; but the hope 
of the shaman failed to become realized at the appointed time, so his 
body was inclosed in a box and the cone of driftwood was erected over it. 
Near the village at Cape Nome was a large burial box (figure lOG) 

sujjported about 
'~^ five feet above the 

/^ ! ji f~i ground on four 

posts. This box 
was made of rude, 
hewn planks cut 
from drift logs, and 
was said to be the 
grave of a noted 
shaman who could 
breathe fire from 
his mouth. The 
other graves about 
the village at this 
cape were roughly 
made of drift logs, 
with the remains 
of totem marks, 
stones, and imple- 
ments about them, very much like the drift log burial places near St 
^Michael, previously described. 

On Sledge island, in Bering strait, I examined several graves on a 
sharp rocky slope of the island just above the village. These consisted 
of shallow pits among the rocks, surrounded by rude lines of stones, 
forming rims, over which were laid drift logs held in i>lace by heavy 
stones. No implements or other marks of distinction were observed 
about these graves, possibly on account of their age. 

In July, ISSl, I climbed the rocky hill above the Eskimo village at 
East cape, Siberia, and found the graves located just above and back 
of the houses among the rocks covering a long ridge. They were very 
rude, consisting of a shallow pit formed by taking out the stones and 
laying them to form a rectangular inclosure G or 8 feet long and 2 or 3 




'•"'='-™^l METHODS 0|- lUUIAI. 

feet wide. In these plaees the Ixidies were h 
their baeks, with deerskin beds below, and over 
of rude i)hinks or drift logs, or soinetiiiies a 
small eairii. l^poii and about the jrraves lay 
various implements of the deceased. 

Graves of men in this spot were marked wirli 
spearheads: those of the women willi pi.t- 
sherdsand stone lamps; at one of these gmves 
was the skull of a polar bear, and at another 
a few reindeer horns. The inelosures were m) 
roughly and li.niitiy made that the villa-e 
dogs had robbed many of them of their con- 
tents. The graveyard extended along the 
hillside for nearly a mile just above and in 
sight of the village, and as I reached one ot 
the graves iiuite near the houses I found a dog 
devouring the remains of a boy 1(» or IL' years 
of age. Some villagt; children who had fol 
lowed me did not pay the slightest attention 
to this, although but a few days befoie the 
dead boy must have been their playmate. 

On the southern point of St Lawrence island 
I ibund the graveyard located about a mile 
back of the village. Some bodies had been 
placed under a cairn and others were laid at full 
length on the ground, with a ring of stones 
I'auged around them and a stick of driftwood 
six or eight feet long either on the ground at 
the foot of the grave or planted so as to pro- 
ject at an angle like the bowsprit of a ship 
(figure 107). Xo implements were seen here. 
From the lack of graves near other villages 
visited on this island, it is ])robable that the 
villagers place their dead at a distance from 
their houses, as is the custom at Plover bay, 
Siberia. This may possibly account for the 
absence of childreirs bodies among the scores 
of victims of famine and disease which were 
found in two or three villages visited on this 
island. At Plover bay, Siberia, the burial 
place was located at the base of the low spot 
on which the village stands, and about a ndle 
from the houses. Some graves were on the 
Hat at the foot of a rocky slope, and others 
on the rocky bench, about a hundred feet 
above. Many of the bodies were laid at full 
IS ETU -I 



321 

ii<I at fid! len;;th upon 
the top was a loveriu'r 



9^0 



^ 1 Yi 





Q 



n 



Vfi.lOl-Ounr ou St L.,«r.-uc< 
ialau.1. 



322 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BEIJING STRAIT [eth.axn. 18 

length iii shallow pits made by removiug the rocks, aurt were covered 
■with sloiR's. Along the edges of the graves lines of small stones were 
arranged in a rude oval. Over the heads of some of them were i)iled 
four or live pairs of reindeer antlers. 

A musket and numerous spears, with other implements, all broken 
so as to render them useless, were scattered about. Many of the 
bodies had been laid upon the ground and surrounded by an oval of 
stones, with a stick of driftwood at the foot, exactly as in graves seeu 
on St Lawrence island. At none of those made in this manner were 
there any implements or other things deposited, and they may have 
been the burial places of people from St Lawrence island. 

At Point Hope, just beyond Kotzebue sound, was a large graveyard, 
in which the bodies were placed in rude boxes built of driftwood, above 
the ground, and surrounded by implements. Still north of this, at 
Gape Lisburne, I found a solitary grave on the side of a ravine by the 
shore. It was an irregularly walled iuclosure in rectangular shape, 
about 3 feet high, .'5 feet wide, and 6 feet long, built of fragments of 
slate rock, and covered with drift logs. This grave was very old, as 
the skeleton was nearly destroyed by weathering, and no implements 
whatever were found. 

TOTEMS AXD rA3Iir,V IHARKS 

Prom Kuskokwim river northward to the shores of iJering strait and 
Kotzebue sound the Eskimo have a regular system of totem marks 
and the accompanying subdivision of the people into gentes. It was 
extremely ditticult to obtain information on this point, but the follow- 
ing notes are sufficiently definite to settle the fact of the existence 
among them of gentes and totemic signs: 

Pictures, carvings, or devices of any kind, totemic or otherwise, are 
called (i'-lhU'i-i'il- by the Unalit. People belonging to tlie same gens 
are considered to be relatives, termed ti-jo'-huk' by the Unalit. 



Vu,. IMS-Arroivji.iiiit .sliuwiu^ w. ill' totem signs (U. 

The gray wolf is called lu/'-i'i-htn'-i'ik ; the wolf totem or mark, 
liUj-u-hin'-i'i-gv'-i'ik ; the wolf gens, l-lg'-i'i-lun'-i'i-f/o-alh'-i-f/'it. 

Arrows or other weapons marked with the sign of the wolf or other 
animal totem mark are believed to become invested with some of the 
qualities of the animal represented and to be endowed with special 
fatality. 

Among other totem marks that of the wolf is well represented on 
some arrows with deerhoru points, used for large game by a party 
of Maleuiut who were hunting reindeer on Niinivak island. These 
arrows have two isolated barbs with a line along their base to repre- 
sent a wolf's back with upstanding ears, which are indicated by the 



TOTKM MAKKS 



3 23 



two barbs. The same idea is I'xpirsse.l ..n the l.asf of tiu- ain.Nv,mK,t 
wlu'ie an incised line abont an indi in k-n-ili is drawn ali.n- (lie sm-' 

laecof the bone witli tlie tw.o sl>,.rl. i.arallel, incised lines iM-,.icet 

fioni It. The arrowpoint ilhistnued to siiow this Mijtnre l(i,s) was 




Fid. mo -S|iiMiii(.ii,i I 



■pn-si-ntin^ ; 



■■^(iU 



3 



obtained on Xunivak island, but was made and nsed l)ya .Miiiemiit iVom 
the vicinity of Kotzcjline sonnd. 

The wolf totem is exhibited on nniiierons spearheads of walrus ivory 
obtained at various places from the shore of Norton sound .soutli- 




waid to Jvuskok\\im inei. lliese speaiheads aie nsuall.\ well made, 
showing; the month of the wolf open, with the line of teeth in relief 
around the oi)en jaws, in the front of which is a hole lined with a 
wooden socket, in which the conical butt of the spearpoint is placed. 



The nostrils and the eyes of tht> wolf are olten represented by blackened 
incised lines; or they may becircnlar pits in which wooden pegs are set, 
or filled with a- black substance, so as to show jjrominently. The wolf's 
ears are usually carved in relief, or are made of sharp-pointed pegs of 



<^^==^ 




ivory set in the sides of the head. I n the latter case the eyes also are 
made of round pegs of ivory, and the holes for the nostrils arc plugged 
with wooden pins. Others have the eyes represented by blue or black 
beads inlaid in the ivory. The accompanying illustrations ol two ot 



324 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING i^TRAIT 



[ETII. ANN. 18 



these give au idea of tbeir general character. Figure 109 is from lower 

Kiiskokwim river ami figure 110 from Nunivak islaud. 

|\ Nearly all the wolf spearheads have represented upon 

jj; the surface the form of the wolf's body in low relief, 

with the legs and feet extending around the under side. 

The representation of the wolf or of some other ani- 
mal totem seems to be common on this class of weap- 
ons, which are used principally for killing wlute whales 
or walrus. 

Figure 111 illustrates a similar spearhead obtained 
on Nunivak island. It is of ivory and represents the 
land-otter totem. The muzzle is rounded, with a cir- 
cular perforation for the eye. The mouth, nostrils, and 
muzzle are outlined by incised lines, but no teeth are 
shown. Along- the sides are other incised figures, as 
shown in the illustration. 

A spearhead from Chalitmut (figure 112) is carved 
to represent an ermine, indicating the totem mark of 
the owner. 

Women belonging to the wolf gens braid strijys of 
wolfskin in their hair, and young men and boys wear 
a wolf tail hung behind on the belt. It is said to have 
been tlie ancient custom for all to wear some mark about 
the dress by which the gens of each person might be 
distinguished. 

Another gens among the Pnalit is tliat <if the ger- 
falcon (Fdlcorusticoliis {/i/r/alco). The name lor gerfal- 
con is cln-'kubv'-l-iili; tlie gerfalcon totem, vhilcuhv'-i-a- 
go'-nk; the gerfalcon gens, chl la'ibr' -i-a' -fjo-uhV -i-(jU. On 
spears and arrows this totem mark is made by bars of 
red i)aint, which are said to represent the bars on the 
gerfalcon's tail. These bars are shown on the arrow 
illustrated in the accompanying figure 113. On the 
bow rei)resented in the same figure this totem is indi- 
cated by a red and black line along a shallow groove 
in the middle of the inside of the bow. 

The raven totem or mark is represented by an etched 
outline of the bird's foot and leg, forming a trideutate 



4 



^ ^ 



FlQ. 114— Siiiipli' forms of the ra 



Fio. 113 — Gcrfalinu 

tottn.s OQ bow aud ^^j.^ qj. sometimes merely by an outline of the foot. 

seal spear. ' j *i 

Forms of this totem are shown in figure 111. 
At East cape, Siberia, I saw numerous arrow- and spear-heads of 



TOTKM MAKKS 



325 



ukI iiiiiile 




bo,,ec,r ivo:Tl.e=,rinjr ,he ravoa nuuk, and the same ,nark was s... 
tattoued on tlio fon'lioad of a hoy at Plover Lay ilifjnic li:., 

Tlicse marks arc froqueiitly scmi on carvinss. weapons, a. 
ments of almost every deseri])tion. On clotlijiij; or 
wooden utensils it may be marked with i)aint. On^tlie 
gut skill suiokeboleeoverorthekasliiin at Kifjiktanik 
two raven signs were drawn close togetlier.with a red 
spot ill front oftliem, as shown In ligure IKi. 

On incjuiry I was told that the man who ])resented 
the kashini with this eover had marked upon it his to- 
tem sign, and that the red sjiot in front was intended 
to represcMit the bloody mark in the snow where the 
raven bad eaten meat. My informant added that ^'"'•- "^-':"^'" fi'm 
sometimes a ring was drawn before the raven tiacks lavT,',',"' '' "'''"'" 
on the cover to rejjresent a seal liole in the iee. 

If a man who jtresented a cover to the kashim belonged to another 
gens, or if bis ancestors excelled in hunting a special kind of lar^e game 

the figure of that animal was di-awn 
on the cover. One man, whose ances- 
tors were noted for being successful 
hunters of sea animals, drew three 
<-shai)e marks cm the cover which he 
inesented to the kashim. as follows 
< < < . These marks were said to 
represent tiie rii)p!ing wake of an ani- 
mal swimming in the water. 

It is customary for liunters to cany 
about witb them an object rejiresenting their totem. A man belong- 
ing to tlie raven gens carries in his qinver a pair of raven feet and 
a quill feather from the same bird. 
The gerfalcon man carries in his 
quiver a (juill feather of that totem 
bird. 

There are otber marks which are 
somewbat dittcrent in signilicance 
from the totem mark, but which may 
be adoi)te(l for various rea.sons. At 
St Michael a man told me of three 
hunters who went out one winter 
during a famine, and after hunting 

for a long time could find no game. _ ^^ _^ 

J'^inally one of them went back to _ .i"or. 

their sledge and took from it the 

ham of a dog which he hail brought with him. After eating some of 

this he started otf again, carrying the bone with him. lie had gone 

only a short distance when he encountered a seal and killed it. This, 




I totems on smoke-hole ( 




326 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERINi; STRAIT 



it was said, was due to tlie doji's ham-bone wliicli he had with him, and 

thereafter he carried this boue and adopted a marl; to represent it in 

l>lace of his totem 
sign, as did his sou 
after him. 

At Sabotuisky, on 
the lower Yukon, I 
saw au oval door of 
hewu boards iu a 
storehouse, on which 
was marked, with red 
ocher, the outline of 
an extended wolfskin 
with the rude figure 
of a wolf outlined on 
the skin and sur- 
rounded by a circle 
(iigurellT). In reply 
to a question, one of 
the villagers told me 
that it was the fam- 
ily markof oneof the 
villagers. "AUofonr 
people," he added, 
"have marks which 
have been handed 
down by our fathers 
from very long ago, 
and we put them on 
all of our things." 

Another man at 
this village said that 
his ancient namesake 

had been a famous bowman, and once while hunting, having nothing 

but blunt-head arrows, such as are used for killing rabbits and otlier 

small game, came across a large red bear, which he immediately began 

to shoot; Anally he broke all of the 

bear's bones aud killed it. After this 

he adopted the red bear as his sign aud 

his descendants still use this mark. 
Figure 118 represents a thin board, 

on whicli tobacco is cut, which was 

obtained at Sabotnisky. There is a ^ ,,,_,,,„.,„„...,.,.,,,„, 

broad, shallow groove along each side, 

succeeded by a small groove along its inner edge. The broad groove has 

two incised curved marks representing bear claws. On each side and 




riG. 11.S— Toi 




'"''■'*™1 TOTICM MARKS— \VAl;s 307 

near tlic end on earl, si.lo is an iiu'iscl .•ivsm.tic mark with a point,.,! 
groove below, saiil to repicsent tlic niontli an,l l.arbel of a l,):,,'!. U ti„. 
base of each bear eiaw is ins-^rtcl a tufl of white seal brisUes "with •„,' 
other tnlt on the ed-e dos,. by an.l on,, on the tip of tiie lparb,.| „f the 
loach. About one thin! of th," .listan,',. from th(. Iront ar,. c.rosslin,.sr..p. 
resenting a lish net streteheil aeross the b,,aril. The e.lg,. of th,. l«>anl, 
inebuling tiie broad groove, hearelaw incisions, ami loach in.Mith. is 
painted red; the net is of ,lul| bluish ,.ol,.r. All of these niarUs hiiv,; 
toteniie meanings which 1 di,l not hav,. an opjiortaniiy to ,lcterniine. 

Figure 1I!» illustrat,.s the ligiires i)ainte(l on a grave box at Stari- 
kwikhi)ak, which indicates that the father of the deceased was a noted 
reindeer hunter. 



Previ,)us to the arrival of the Russians on the .Maskan sliore of 
Bering sea the Eskimo wageil an almost constant intertribal warfare; 
at the same time, along the line of contact with the Tinnc tribes of the 
interior, a bitter fend was always in exist,. nee. Tiie people of the coast 
from the Y'ukon mouth to Kot/.ebue sound have many tales of villages 
destroyed by war parties of Tinn,.. liack from the head of Norton 
bay and Kotzebue sound, during the time of my resiilen,',' in that 
region, se\eial Tiun,'' were killed by Malemut while hunting rein, leer 
on the strip of uninhabited tundra lying between the districts oi.cupied 
by the two peoples. During the summer of 1S7!) a jiarty of three Male- 
mut from the head of Kotzebue sound ambush, 'd ami killed seven 
Tinni'. who were tbund hunting reindeer in the interior. 

As related by various hlskimo (luestioned by me, it aiipcared that a 
favorite mode of carrying on their ancient warfare was to lie in ambush 
near a village until night and then to cre<.p up and close the passage- 
way to the kashim, thus coulining the men within, and afterward 
shooting them with arrows througli the smoke hole in the roof. Some- 
times the women were put to death, at other times they were taken 
borne by th,' victors; but tiie men and the boys were always killeil. 

In those days villages were built on high points, where defens,. was 
m,)re easily made against an attacking party and from which a hiokout 
was kept alm,)St constantly. When the warri,)rs of one of the Inalit 
villages wished to make up a party to attack an enemy, a song of invi- 
tation was made and a nu'ssenger sent to sing it in the kashims at 
other friendly villages; meanwhile the men of the village originating 
the plot set to work in the kashim and made suiiplies of new bows and 
arrows and prepared other weapons wliile waiting for their friemis. The 
people invited would Join the men from the first villag,. and all would 
setout stealthily to surprise the enemy during the night. If they faded 
iu this an open battle ensued, unless the attacking j.arty became ,lis- 
couraged an,l returned home. Near St Michael there were shown me 
some of th,. old h.,ikoi.l pJac.'S where the watchmen were stationed to 



328 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [kth.ann. 18 

guard against the approach of tlie Mageumt, wbo lived just south of 
the Yukon mouth and were the chief enemies of the Uualit. 

Near St Michael, on the top of an elevated islet close to the coast, is 
the site of an aucient village which had been surprised and destroyed 
by this last-named people long- before the arrival of the Kussiaus in 
that region. Digging in some of the pits marking the places once 
occupied by houses, I found charred fragments of wood and various 
small articles belonging to the former occupants. 

The following account of the ancient warfare of the Eskimo on the 
lower Yukon and adjacent region southward was given me in January, 
18S1, by an old man living near Andreivsky: 

The people of the lower Yukon and Pastolik fought against those 
living on the southern part of the Yukon delta and the country south- 
ward, iuclitding the villages at Big lake and in the Kuslevak mountains 
and the Magemut of the coast just south of the Yukon mouth. The 
old man said that the main war between these people started in a 
great village located near Ikognutt. Two boys were playing with a 
bone-tip dart, and one of them accidentally pierced his coinpaniou's 
eye; this so enraged the father of the injured boy that he caught the 
other and destroyed both his eyes. The fathers of the two boys then 
fought, one armed with a beaver-tooth knife and the other with a bone 
bodkin, the tight resulting in the death of both men. The (]uarrel was 
taken up by relatives and friends on both sides, the village became 
divided, and the weaker party was forced to leave the Yukon and go 
southward, where they settled. From that time continual warfare was 
carried on between tbem. 

Battles took place usually in summer, and the victors killed all they 
could of the males of the opposing side, even including infants, to 
prevent them from growing up as enemies. The dead were thrown in 
heaps and left. The females were commonly spared from death, but 
were taken as slaves. 

When young men fought in their first battle each was given to drink 
some of the blood and made to eat a snuill piece of the heart of the 
first enemy killed by them, in order to render them brave. An Unalit 
at St Michael told mc that in former days each of their young warriors 
always ate a small piece of the heart of the first enemy killed by him 
on a hostile raid. 

During the battles on the Yukon the best fighters used to throw 
themselves on their backs and kick their heels iu the air in derision of 
the enemy when they approached one another. When any of the men 
exhausted their supply of arrows they would stand in front of their 
couu-ades and break those of the euemy with their spear shafts by 
striking them as thej' tiew past. No shields were used. They said 
that if an arrow was coming straight at a man he could not see it, so 
it was very hard to avoid being hit, but that a man could readily see 
one Hying toward another. Some of the warriors are said to have 
been very expert bowmen. My old informant told me that his name- 



NE.SON) MAGEMUT AM. VncoX KsKlMO WARKAl;,-. ;!2;i 

sake was a famous bowmai,. On ,.,„■ o-vasion l,o was said i,, l,av.. 

n-ou so ilial ]„. ,„iil(l 



pinned an enemy to a wall of a lionso wit) 



not release liiinself. 

If a tin-ht lasted a lon.^ tinu.. so that l.otl. parries boea.Me tin.] and 
Lungiy or sleepy, a fur .'oat would bo waved on a sii.k by one si.l,. .,s 
a si-n of tiuee, -luring wlueli botli parties would rest, eat or si,.,.,, an,] 
then renew tlie eonrtict. Durin- the trnee both sides station.-d ..n'anis 
wbowatehed against surpris,.. SoinKimes. the ohl num sai.l "a man 
would be shot so full of arrows that his body would bristle with thrm 
and, falling, be held ahnost tree IVom the ground by th.-ir nunib,.r. ' 

At times volleys of arrows were tired in (uder to render it more dilli- 
cult for the enemy to escape being hit. Wh.-n one of liu' warriors had 
shot away all bis arrows ami chanced to be surrounded by the em.niy, 
he could sometimes escape death for a long tinu! by do.lging and leap'- 
iiig fnmi side to side, but tinally would be kill,.(l by soim' of them strik- 
ing him upon the head with a warclub having a sharp spur of bone or 
ivory on one side. The defeated jiarty was always pursued and. if 
possible, exterminated. 

The Magemut are said to have been stronger in battle tlian the 
Yukon men, and a larger number of the latter were always killed in a 
coiitiict between these two people. Neither side had any recognized 
chief, but each fought as he i)leased, with the exception that some of 
the older men had general supervision and control of the expedition. 

When a nmii on either side had relatives in the oi)i)osing party, and 
for this reason did not wish to take i)art in the battle, he would blacken 
his face with charcoal and remain a iu)ncombatant, both sides respect- 
ing his neutrality. In this event, a imin with his face blackened had 
the privilege of going without danger among the people of either side 
during a truce. 

The Magemut always carried off th,. women after a sncei.ssful raid, 
but my Yukon informant told me this was not done by his people, which 
statement was probably made merely from a desire on his part to give 
his own peojde the advantage in my eyes. He admitted, however, the 
siijjerior tighting ([ualities of his enemies, the Magemut. 

"When possible night raids wen; made by the villagers on both sides, 
and the people were usually clubbed or speared to death. The coii- 
(juered village was always i)illaged, and if a warrior saw any i.ersonal 
ornament on a .slain enemy which pleased him. he .seized it and wore it 
himself, even placing in his lijis the labrets taken from the face of a 
dead foe. If one of the comiuerors chanced to see a woman wearing 
handsome beads or other ornaments, he would brain her and strip 
them off. 

The old man told me that in battles between the peoide of lower 
Kusko(|nini river aiul those of Bristol bay the victors nnule a juactice 
of cutting off the heads of their slain enemies and placing them on the 
top of sharj) stakes set in the grouml, with arrows thiiist crosswise 
through their noses. 



330 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 

The last battle foiiglit between tbe Yukon people and the Magemut 
was about the time the Eussians first established themselves at St 
Michael. This fight took i)lace on a tiat piece ot grouud at the head of 
the noitliein branch of the Yukon mouth. Several low mounds visible 
on tills little tlat are said to mark the places where the dead were left 
in a heap after the battle. 

In ancient times the Eskimo oi' Bering strait were constantly at war 
with one another, the people of the Diomede islands being leagued with 
the Eskimo of the Siberian shore against the combined forces of those 
on King island and the American shore from near the head of Kotze- 
bue sound to Cape Prince of Wales and Port Clarence. An old man 
from Sledge island told me that formerly it was customary among the 
people of the Siberiau coast to kill at sight any Eskimo from the Ameri- 
can shore who might have been driven by storm across the strait, 
either in umiaks or on tbe ice. 

I was also informed that at one time the inhabitants of the lesser 
Diomede islaud became angry with those of the greater Diomede 
island and united with the people of Cape Prince of Wales against 
them, but were defeated. The last war party iu this district came iu 
a fleet of umiaks from East cape, Siberia, and the Diomede islands, 
and sailed uj) Port Clarence, but meeting a large force of the American 
Eskimo, both sides agreed upon a peace, which has not since been 
broken. 

During the wars formerly waged among the people living on the 
coasts and islands of Bering strait, there was in common use a kind of 
armor made of imbricated plates of walrus ivory fastened together with 
sealskin cords. Plate xcii illustrates a uearly complete set of this 
body armor, which was obtained on the Diomede islands. 

Plates of ivory for armor of this kind were seen on St Lawrence 
island, and ou the Siberiau shore at Cape Wankarem. 

The i)eople about the shores of Norton and Kotzebue sounds were 
also familiar with the use of armor in ancient times. During my resi- 
dence at St Michael two- or three of the natives who lived turbulent 
lives were reputed to have worn light iron armor under their fur frocks, 
which it was claimed had been jturchased from vessels, aud from the 
description must have been shirts of chain mail. 

GAMES AXD TOYS 

The Eskimo of the lower Yukon, the Alaskau coast district of Bering 
sea, and the Arctic ocean have a considerable variety of games, both 
for outdoor aud indoor amusement, and most of them have a wide 
range. The following detailed descriptions of some of them, although 
taken mainly from the Uualit of Norton sound, represent games found 
among other tribes. The greater ])ortion of them are played while the 
men are confiued to the villages during the short, cold days of winter. 

In the vicinity of St Michael and some other trading stations the 
Eskimo have learned to ])lay cards, usually puker, and are i>assionately 



RURraU OF AMERICAN ETi-N 








ESKIMO PLATE ARMOR 



XELSON] 



<iAMi;s A\n TOV: 



331 



foudof tliein; aswitl. the .s,,,,! hen, al„„i..M,os tlu-r i • 

away everytlun.i, tl..v posse.. 1„ 11.'',^^'^""."'""-^""''''' 

games tl.eloeaiitywlJeael, was hvi '"","' ""' "'"'""" 

notoan.att,K.. a. not onunaniy ;■;:;::; ;V:,!;::::-;;:^ 

but, so far as culd ho learned, seemed t.. l,e ..■..„ ., ' 

with slight lea. .nodUieaUons. Hnpllen L ;; ^^ ^ 'r"' 

were ..btained from wi.Iely separatell plaees ^'""■' 

Friendly contests in trials of strength, wrestlin.. ete, were „„,.•], 
more eonnuon l.eiore than they have been sinee the anhal ot ,' 

men, the.r commo- living p„t a stop to (he pre.iato.v raids of l 

lage upon auother and caused a diminution iu the rivalry among the 




yonug men to exeel in strength and agility wliich aeeomiiaiiied the 
more warlike s])irit of other days. 

In addition to the games of the ukmi, others are played by the women 
and chiklren. lioys have toy hunting outfits, with models of sleils, 
kaiaks, and umiaks, and small bows and arrows for liuntingbirds: they 
also snare birds and set traps tor nuee and other small game. The girls 
play with dolls made of ivory or other material, and also have small 
models of dishes and other women's household utensils, with wiiieh 
they iiinuse themselves in the house very much after the mannei- of 
children in civilized countries, playing at housekeeping and women's 
work of various kind.s. Figure 120, Irom a sketch made by .Mr II. W. 
Elliott on St Lawrence island, re|)resents the boy I'oonook, with his 



332 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.axx.18 

toy sled. lu the background is the sbelter over the entrance of the 
tunnel leading to the interior of the half-underground house, the roof of 
which appears like a mound on the right. 

During one of my sledge journeys I was stormbound at Cape Darby, 
near Bering strait, and during the day an old man in the house where 
I stopped amused me by the ingenuity with which he made intricate 
])atterus of cord, holding the loop between his extended hands after the 
nuuiner of children making a "cat's cradle." For an hour or more he 
made a constant succession of i)atterns with his sinew cord, forming 
outlines of various birds and other animals of the region. The readi- 
ness with which he wove the strings in and out showed that his dex- 
terity must have been gained by long practice. I also heard of tliis 
form of amusement among the Eskimo along the coast southward to the 
moutli of the Kuskokwim. 

The following games are in common iise throughout this region : 

First game — (St Michael). A round block about 6 inches long is 
cut into the form of a large spool, but with the flaring rim of one end 
replaced by a sharpened point. The top is from 2i to 3 inches across 
and has a deep hole in the center. This spool-like object is planted in 
the floor of the kashim with the large end upward, and an indefinite 
number of players gather around it seated cross-legged on the floor. 
iS^ear the spool is a small pile of short sticks, of uniform size, used as 
counters. These, with a small, pointed wooden dart, in size and shape 
almost exactly like a shar])ened lead ])encil, compose the implements of 
the game. The first player takes the butt of the dart between the 
thumb and foretinger, with its ijoint upward and his hand nearly on a 
level with the spool. Then he gives the dart a deft upward toss, trying 
to cause it to take a curved course, so that it will f;ill with the point 
downward and remain fast in the hole at the top of the spool. If he 
succeeds he takes one of the counting sticks from the pile and tries 
again; Nvhen he misses, the dart is passed to the next player, and so 
on, until the counters are all gone, when the players count up and the 
one having the most counters is the winner. Ordinarily this game is 
l)layed by men, women, or children merely for pastime, but sometimes 
small articles are staked upon the outcome. It is a source of much 
sport to the players, who banter and laugh like school children at each 
other's bad play. 

Second c^ajie — (St 3Iichael). A bundle of from fifty to seventy- 
five small, stjuared, wooden splints, about -1 inches long and a little 
larger than a match, are placed in a small pile crosswise on the back of 
the player's outstretched right hand. The player then removes his 
hand (piickly and tries to grasp the falling sticks between his thumb and 
fingers, still keeping the palm downward. If one or more of the sticks 
fall to the ground it is a miss and the next player tries. Every time a 
player succeeds in catching all of the falling sticks, he lays aside one 
of them as a counter until all are gone, when each ijlayer counts up and 



GAMES 



333 



the Olio hoUlms rhe greatost i.ui„l,er is the winner. These sniiuvd 
splints are simihir t.. those used lor markers in the lirst same .h'seribed 
Small stakes are sometimes jdayed for in this ^ame as in tlie liixt 

Thjkd .;AME-(St Michael). The bun.li of slender splints ain adv 
described are also used to iday a frame exactly like jacUstraws. The 
l.layer grasps the bunch of sticks between the thumb ami I lie foiclin^er 
of the right hand, resting one end upon the lioor; then lie suddenly 
releases them and they fall in a small heap. The players have a small 
wooden hook, and each in succession removes as many of the sticks as 
he can without moving any but the one taken. Kacii player keeps 
those he succeeds iu renioviug, and the one Indding the largest number 
at the end is the winner. Both men and women play this game, but 
usually not together. 

FouKTii GAME («-c/(«/,7i'c/i-/rtA- of the Unalit)— (St Michael). This 
is played by men and women during the long twilight nights of June, 
and is often continued during the whole night. A .stake ( in'ipini ii zlii'ik) 
is driven into the ground so as to project a foot or two. About this, in 
a circle, some four yards away, sit the men and women players. One 
of them places some small article of value at the foot of the stake for a 
prize (iin-kh u'-tik). The next player takes a small ring of twisted grass 
{(i-zhukh'-chtak) about G inches iu diameter, and tries to toss it so as 1o 
encircle the stake. If he misses, the ring is pass;'d to the next jilayer. 
When one encircles the stake he takes a prize and must substitute for 
it another of about equal value, but of a ditfeieiit kind. In this way 
a kind of trading is brought about, since each puts up sometliing of 
■which he has a surplus. 

Top spinning (u-i'-n-uk) — (Lower Yukon). In winter along the lower 
Yukon and adjacent region to the south the children of both sexes 
gather in the kashim, and each child in succession spins its toj). The 
moment the top is spun the owner runs out through the entrance pas- 
sage and attempts to make a comiilete circuit of the house and enter 
again before the top stops spinning. A score is made every time this 
is done successfully. 

Dart tiikowing (iiolch'-ichi'ik)—{iit Michael). This is i)laye(l in tiie 
kashim by two or more persons, usually for a i)rize or stake. The 
darts are small, short, and made of wood, largest at the i)oiiit and 
tapering backward toward the butt, in which is fastened a bird ipiill 
for guhling the dart in its llight. In the large end of the dart is 
fastened a sharp spike of bone, horn, or sometimes of ivory. The 
target is a small, upright stick of some soft wood planted in the tloor. 
lid's may be placed in the middle of the room and the iilayeis divided 
into two parties, seated on ojijiosite sides of the target, or it may be 
placed on one side of the room and the players seated together on the 
other. In the former case a man is appointed from each side to return 
the darts to the throwers and to give each player a counter when a 
point is made. Each player has two darts which he throws one alter 



h%) 



334 THE KSKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.anx. 18 

the other, and a score is made wheu a dart remains sticking into the 
target. Ten small wooden counting sticks are placed ou 
the floor by the target, and one of these is given for each 
score; the side gaining the most of these counters takes 
the prize, and the game begins again. 

At Cape Xome, south of Bering strait, a similar dart game 
was .seen, but there the target was a square, boai'd-like 
l)iece of wood with a dark-colored bull's-eye painted iu the 
center. This was set up iu the kashim and the meu and 
boys threw their darts at it, scoring when they hit the bull's- 
eye. The wooden portion of the darts used in this game, 
both at Cape Nome and St Michael, was from live to six 
inches in length and from three fourths of an inch to au 
inch iu diameter at the larger end. Figure 121 represents 
a dart from Cape Nome, used for throwing at a square board 
jj| target with a round, black bull's eye painted on its center. 

The players place the target on one side of the kashim and 
stand upon the other side to throw, scoring one for each 
dart that sticks in the bull's-eye. These darts are nearly 
two feet iu length and have a tapering wooden handle, larg- 
est at the front, with an ivory point fastened in the lower 
end by a tapering, wedge-shape point, which is inserted in 
the split end and lashed firnily. The upper end of the 
shaft tapers to a small, round point, ou which is fastened 
the CTid of a feather from a cormorant's tail, which serves 
to guide the dart iu its flight. 

Net A]\d dart throwing game {nii-ij'o'-JiU-ffa'-nul-) — 
(St Michael). This is played iu the kashim by meu only. 
A small, oval, wooden frame, about three inches long by 
au iuch and a half wide, having the interior ttnely netted 
with cord, is hung from the roof and held iu place by a cord 
at each end. It is placed about four feet from the floor in 
front of the summer entrauce or under the smoke-hole iu 
the roof. Each i)layer has a long, slender dart, about three 
feet in length and a quarter of an inch iu diameter, with a 
barbed point of bone or deerhorn. To the butt eud of the 
dart is fastened a small cord, so that the player can draw it 
back after throwing. When the point of the dart enters 
the wooden ring it is held fast by the barbs ou the point, 
and this scores one for the successful ])layer. Under this 
target each player places some object as a prize. Then all 
go to one side of the room and throw three darts iu succes- 
sion at the target. Whenever a i)layer pierces the target so 
that he uuxst remove his dart with his hands, he is entitled 
to take anything he wishes from the i)ile of prizes. In this 

Fig. 121-Dart. Way the game continues uutil all the articles are disposed of. 



'-■■^■^"^•l DART-THUOWINCJ— i.OOTr,Al.I. 335 

TuuowiNO STICKS il^n.r-tnln-{St Mi,.lKu.l,. A nvtantruh.r iv,.,v 
pin, from five to seven inches in ]en-(l,. is i)lante,l uprijilit in tl.e linoV 
of tbe kasluui. Each i.la.yer puts up an objeet tor a pn/e. and s,.„„l 
m- at a certain distance from tiie i)in tosses in sncc^ssion two sn. ill 
flat, ivory rods toward it. Tlic man wl.ose rod lies closest to the piii 
when all have thrown is entitled to his choice of the articles staked l).v 
the players, and the -ame proceeds until all of the articles are won. 
The ivory rods used in this ^-ame are from about 2h to I or 5 indies iii 
len-th, rather llattened, and ipiadiangular in cross "section, the corners 
rounded, and on one .side of each end is a rounded bead, the two beads 
facing- in ditlerent directions. The mune of these two small rods is the 
same a.s that of the game. They are sometimes grooved along one or 
both faces, and usually are pierced near one end so that they may be 
strung- on a cord with from two to four larger ivory jiins like that stuck 
in the floor. These latter are brought down to a tiat. rounded point at 
one end, Mhile the other is larger and rounded or sipuiied, often with 
the head of an animal carved uiinn it. 

This collection of rods serves i)rimarily for preparing and twisting 
the sinew for sinew backed bows, as has been exi)lained by Mr .lohii 
Murdoch. These objects, including both classes of rods, were obtained 
from the Alaskan coast between Kuskokwim river and tiie vicinity of 
Point Barrow, as well as from the islands in llering strait and on St 
Lawrence island. 

A handsome set obtained on Sledge island consists of four of the 
large pins with the uiiper ends carved to iei)resent reindeer heads, and 
two of the ordinary, snuxll, flat rods. These, like most iinjilements of 
this kind, are made of walrus ivory; occasionally bone is used, but 
this is uncommon in the region where ivory is found. One set of the 
Hat rods from Hotham inlet, Kotzebue sound, are marked with the 
raveu totem; others have a series of circleanddot ornamentaticm. but 
many of them are plain. One specimen of the pin from Point lloiie has 
the larger end carved to represent one of the Joints in the leg bone of 
a nuunmal, and another set from the same (dace has carved on theui 
the head of some small animal, probaldy a tb\. .\nother set of these 
implements in the National .Museum was obtained by Mr Mai tailaiic at 
Port Anderson, in Hudson Pay territ(U-y. 

Football (itifi'-u-mi-H'-hlittuD—i^t Michael). The ball {ihVLiih) 
used in this game is made of leather, stutled with deer hair or moss, 
and varies in size, but rarely exceeds live or six inches in diameter. 
The game is played by young men and children. The usual season for 
it is at the end of winter or iu spring. 1 saw it played m various places 
from Periug strait to the mouth of the Kuskokwim: at Caiie Darby 
it was played by children on the hard, drifted snow; it is also a popular 
game on the lower Yukon. Two of the |.articipaiits act as leaders, 
one on each side choosing a player alternately from among those gath- 
ered until they are enually divided. At a given distance apart two 



336 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth,a.nn.18 

c-ouspiciious marks are made on the suow or gTound whicli serve as 
goals, the players staud each by their goal aud the ball is tossed upou 
the ground midway between them; a rush is then made, each side 
strivinj;' to drive the ball across its adversaries' line. 

Another football game is begun by the men standing in two close, 
parallel lines midway between the goals, their legs and bodies forming 
two walls. The ball is then thrown between them and driven back 
and forth by kicks and blows until it passes through one of the lines; 
as soon as this occurs all rush to drive it to one or the other of the 
goals. 

The northern lights (aurora) of winter are said by these people to be 
boys playing this game; others say that it is a game being played by 
shades using -walrus skulls as balls. 

Women's football (i'iri-h'il'-u-(fit) — (St Michael and neighboring 
coast region, both north and south). This game is played by women 
usually during the fall and winter. The ball used is generally consid- 
erably larger than the one used in the men's game. The four players 
stand opposite each other, thus — 



Each pair has a ball, which is thrown or driven back and forth across 
the square. The ball is thrown u))ou the ground midway between the 
players, so that it shall bound toward the opposite one. She strikes the 
ball down and back toward her partner with the palm of her open hand. 
Sometimes the ball is caught on the toe or hand and tossed uj) and 
struck or kicked back toward the other side. The person who misses 
least or has fewer " dead '" balls on her side wins. At times this game 
is played by only two women. 

Hand ball (l-ai-tiil'-ii-g'U) — (St Michael).- The ball used in this 
game is a rounded rectangular leather bag about three by six inches, 
filled with sand or earth. This bag is called Icai'-iuk. The young men 
of the village form one side in this game, tossing the ball from one to 
the other, while the young women are on the opposite side and strive 
to secure the bag and keep it going among themselves, A player on 
the same side as another is called i-ii'-ka (plural, i-li'-put) and the oppo- 
nents are called iUlx)l'-u-(f)t. It is j)layed in May and June, during the 
long, pleasant twilight nights, sometimes lasting the entire night. 

When one of the young men has chanced uot to have the ball in his 
hand for a long time, his comrades cry out that he is " hungry " and try 
to get the ball to him. The women exert every effort to intercept it and 



if they snct-ml pursue aii,l ••at,.], the uuhu-kv i.laver an,! .nl, 1,, i > 

->^" ^"« ^^"i' ^"""'^ ' -i-t they will >.,iihL ;:."„:; v : ';:;; 

not starve/' while the other players shriek u i,|. ......un.. ' : „ :" 

Soes on night alter iiij-ht .h.rin- th,. seas,,, , ,,• , , ;,,, " "' 

Mie..ael the laughter an., .ies .,r the players ,:.:';,;:;, ',:;;: '^ 
1" -Wu.on ,., ,h,s gan.e another is playe,l. parti.-ularlv an,„n ' the 
women, m wh„-h the ball is u.erely t,.sse,l fn.n, hand to hm,! 

Hockey ,,<('-^«.^//r'.,;.,/,/ ,„. /.// A-».W/-'.,;.^v/)_,st Mi.-hael . This 
IS l.Iaye.l with a sn.all hall of ivory, h-ather, or woo.l, an.l a stick 
cmrved at the lower en.l. The hall an,l s,i,.k are ealle.l j>,., l/.'.,nl: 
The ball IS placed on the groun,l or he and the j.layers divi.le into tw.i 
parties. Iv.ch player with his stiek attenij-ts to drive th- hall ■..-r.iss 
theopimneuts- goal, whi.h is establislR-d as In the tootball ..ame 

GKA^S-liALL GAME ()/„i«,'-».,,'»)_<St Michael). In sunnm.r tl>'e nu-n 
make a stout ball of grass, live or six inelies in diameter, fr,)ni which 
the game takes its name. Sides are chosen an.l each, when having the 
ball, pursues the ,)ther. The members of each side try to hit Uieir 
opponents with the l>all while the latter attenipt to avoi.i l.eing struck 

or to obtain the ball in order to lul their op| cuts. The si,lc'^s.-,>rin"- 

the greatest number of hits is the winner. 

Rope .ifMPlNft {(■i-tuU,'-t(,-(j,;L-)—{St Michael,. This is a summer 
game played out of doors. A heavy njjie, from is to L'l feet in length 
made of brauled grass, is held at eacli end by a man or a woman and 
swung in a circle. One jilayer stands in the mhldle. sidewise to the 
rope, and must jumji it twice in succession as it is swung ar,)und and 
then spring away without being touched, lie is then replaced by a 
companion, who repeats the iierformance. If either fails he exchanges 
place with one oi' those swinging the rope. This rope is called 
jji'hakh' li(h-. 

Blind-man's m ff (<-li<i/-t(('/fininj—[l>t MichaeP. Tins is playeil l)y 
young people , luring spring and summer. One of the players, either a 
nnin or a wonum. is l)litidfoI(le,l ami the others stand in a circle around 
him and .set up a shout. After this all try t,i keep perfectly ipdet, 
creeping sottly about on tiie ground to avoiil being cauglil. ihe lirst 
person caught being in turn blindfolded. 

Hide and seek {i-(j'n't«-(j<('-tl-10t) — (St Michael i. This game is 
played in summer, when the grass is long, by both men and women, 
but not together. The players divide into two sides, standing ojipo- 
site each other and bent over so that the crowns of each ojiposing pair 
rest against each other, their han,ls being clasped and outstretched on 
each side. Then a designatcl i)layer hides in the grass or behind s,ime 
shelter and when well conceale,l utters a faint cry. The two si,les 
then separate, the oi)posiiig side searching for the one concealed. 
When be is fVmnd all Join as before, with heatis and hands together, 
while the on<> sueci'ssfiil in discovering the other conceals himself in 
the same manni'i-. 

18 ETH l'l' 



338 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETnANx.ls 

Tac {u-li('-l-i-ta'-<fi'il-) — ( St Michael). This game is played at any sea- 
son by luen and women divided into e(|Ual parties, which are subdivided 
into pairs. Tlien a designated player starts oft', ])ursued by the others, 
the ]i]ayers on the opposite side trying to overtake and touch him 
before he can touch the mate he was given from his own party. This 
mate strives to get within reach of his companion, the opposite side 
meanwhile using every effort to interfere between the two by running 
after the first and hindering the latter. If the ]>layer succeeds in 
touching his mate before he is touched he wins and another pair of 
runners come out from his side. If he is touched fiirst by one of his 
opponents, he lo.ses, and a pair of runners come out from among them 
and take his place. 

Twin Txa (li-ldt'ikh'-lm-ta'-ffi'ik) — (St Michael). In this game the 
players are fastened together in pairs, being tied by the ankles. One 
pair are given a start and are pursued by the others until one of the 
two is touched by another pair, whereupon the latter take their places. 
This is a summer game. 

Ema ARorND {uhl-tu') — (St Michael). The players in this game are 
either men or women together or separately. The players are divided 
into two equal parties, each party joining hands and facing toward the 
center of a circle. When ready they circle about as swiftly as possible, 
all tke time advancing toward a certain point agreed upon, and the 
circle or ring of players which first reaches the goal is victorious. 
This game att'ords much sport, as the members of each ring are eager 
to reach the goal, but the double motion frecjuently causes them to 
stumble and fall promiscuously over one another. 

Tossing on walrus skin {aJ-u4t'lI'-H-(fit). — I heard of this game 
from Bering strait to the mouth of the Yukon. A large walrus hide 
is spread out and hand-holes are cut around its border. One of the play- 
ers stands upon the center, and a party of men on one side and women 
on the other, numbering as many as can reach it, take hold of the skin. 
By united effort the players jerk the skin up, holding it tightly 
stretched. The person on it is thrown high in the air and if he alights 
on his feet one of the other side must take his place. Should he fall in 
any other position he or one of his side must remain on the skin. This 
is a summer game, but is sometimes i^racticed by the young men in the 
kashim during winter. 

Tug of war (tin-nl'h-tai'-ffmtn) — (St Michael). This is played 
at any season. A strong rawhide loop is made; tlie contestants are 
divided into two j)arties, and the strongest man of each i)arty grasps 
the loop with his right hand. The men on each side form a queue with 
their arms around each other's bodies and pull at a given signal; the 
side which first looses its hold on the loop is defeated. The loop is 
called l-i-cMl-'. This game is played either out of doors or in the kashim, 
by either men or women; sometimes it is played by a single pair of 
men or women and is then called uo-l-u'-taun. 



"■"'-""'l PHYSICAL (OXTKSTS 3;5j, 

ARM PULLING (A/K.o'.,A,„.,-(S, Mi..l,ael). Two „,«, lo..k tln-ir 
right arms and a strn.g of other nu.. lorn, a ,.um,.. ,nlli„. on I.o, , 

Sf kal^i^m"" '"" ""• '"'" " ' "•'"'"• """'•■^'- •■•'^^'*^->^'" -<"i'' 

Polk pplling u,.-/,-,;.; .»„ ,_ st Mi.hael,. A roun.l. slender pole .ix 
or eight leet Ion- is hii.l on tl,e tioorof the kashin, an.l an .oual nnniher 
of men sit upon tlie Ihmr ah.ng each side of it with their knees hent 
and hands -rasping it. At a given sigiial all pull, the side dra-JM- 
the other across the; central line being vietors. "" " 

Stick kaising {,///..,•»' ^,7,,_iSt Miehael). A round siiek a little 
larger than a broom handle is grasped lirmly bv two players who are 
usually standing: one player holds it down at arin-s length, graspin- 
it firmly with both hands while the other attempts to raise ?t above 
his head. 

FinCtEU pulling ia-,iu-li.plnin)~i>t Michael . This is jdayed in 
the kashini by four men; the two strongest players hook their right 
second lingers and each man is grasped about his ri-ht shoulder and 
under the left arm by his second; then all pull until one is deleatcd liy 
loosing his hold. 

Foot pulling {it-l:lia'-ifn)i)i)—:Sl :\IichaeI.- Two men lie upon 
their faces ou the tloor of the kashim with their feet together and 
heads in oi)i)<)site directions. Their right feet are hooked into a 
short, rawhide loop, and each tries to crawl away ami drag the other 
backward. 

Neck pulling (tu-iiiicliu'-ifainD—iiii .Michael . Two men kneel 
on the floor of the kashim. near and foeiug each other: their heads are 
bowed and a rawhide loop is placed so as to rest over the backs of 
their necks. A stick is placed crosswise between each man's teeth, 
projecting on either side above the cord of the loop so as to keep the 
latter from sli))ping ()\er the head. The men then droj) forward on 
their hands and each tries to back away, dragging his adxersary; 
the one who first stu^ceeds is the victor. 

Head pushing [clturtiikli'-ti'i fi'aun) — (St Michael i. Two men go 
down upon their hands and knees on the kashim tloor and, juessing 
their foreheads together, strive to i)ush each other bai-k from their 
positions. 

Batteeing ram (tu'-ki'i-l-ih//t('-lir' — (St Michael;. This is jilayed by 
four men in the kashim. Two of the players each takes his jiartner 
upon his shoulder, the latter lying face downward with his body stif- 
fened and feet projecting horizontally in front of the man carrying him. 
In this position the carriers face each other and run one at the otlier 

so that the feet of the two men on their shoulders shall c e together, 

trying in this way to upset each other, the <lefeated pair falling igno- 
miniousl}' to the floor. 

Wrestling {cha'-lih(k)—iSt Mit^iael). Wrestling is usually done 
by each man seizing his opponent by the arms or body, trying to gain 



340 THE ESKIMO ABOUT IJERING STIIAIT [kth.ann. 18 

a s(in:iie I'all on tlu' back without tin' aid of triiipiii,!;- or auy other use 
of the feet or legs, except as supports. This is generally done for sport, 
but I was told that in ancient times disputed claims for women were 
sometimes settled in this manner. A stranger, upon arrival in a village, 
is frequently challenged to wrestle with the local champion. Powerful 
men are veiy rough in this sport, aud one method is to attempt by a 
terrific hug to crush the opponent. One old man told me that he had 
seeu the blood gush from a wrestler's mouth and nose from the pressure 
of his antagonist. I heard of au instance where a white man visiting 
the village of the ^lalemutat Kotzebue sound during the winter was 
repeatedly challenged to wrestle by one of the villagers. Finally, the 
annoyauce became so great that the stranger accepted the challenge, 
aud, being an extremely powerful man, seized the Eskimo aud dashed 
him to the tloor of the kashim so heavily that he was badly hurt. This 
was considered quite legitimate and the stranger was not nu)lested 
further. 

Knee walking (chis-l-K'mi-nJc') — (St Michael). The young men of 
a village kneel on the plank flooring of the kashim and holding tlieu- 
feet up with their hands walk about on bare knees, each trying to 
outdo the others in endurance. 

High .tumping (kut'-khi(k) — (St Michael). A stick is hehl or fas- 
tened above the floor at a certain distance and the youug men try to 
excel in leaping over it, the stick gradually being raised to the limit of 
the jumi)ers' powers. 

Horizontal .tumping (mi-chikli ti'ik) — (St Michael). The jumpers 
in this game practice it either outside of or within the kashim. A mark 
is made from which the jumping is done and another ou the ground or 
floor scores the point reached by each. 

HuRiiLE JUMPING {i/d'-Ii-l-u' -juk) — (St Michael). Four umiak oars 
are placed at an ec^ual distance ai)art around the sides of the kashim, 
about breast high above the floor; the contestants start in ])airs, Jump- 
ing over them one after the other until one of each pair is defeated by 
failing to clear one of the oars. 

Foot 1{ aging {I'tk-irhaun') — (St Michael). This is a favorite sport 
among the Eskimo and is practiced usually in autumn when the new 
ice is formed. The race extends from one to several miles, the course 
usually lying to and around some natural object, such as an island or 
a point of rocks, then back to the starting point. 

Kaiak racing (i)(til->l-(fniin') — (St Michael). The men, each in his 
kaiak, are ranged side by side near the shore, and then at a signal 
paddle around a rock or islet, the winner being he who first touches 
the shore on returning to the starting point. 

Umiak races are also conducted in the same way, aud hunters engage 
in contests in throwing seal and walrus spears of various kinds. 

From Kuskokwiin river to Cape Prince of Wales, on both the main- 
land and the islands, children of both sexes were found using tops. 



I'.rz/.Es, AM) ()Thi:r tov^; 



341 



These are conunoiily of .lisk si,.,,,., thin at th,. e.l-e an.l i.e.f,.,nnl i„ 
the center for a i-e- On., from Cape I'rinc,. of \V:,U-s , fi.nii.' I- is of 
walrns ivory; it is 2A indies in dianioter and has ;, In-h-'an in.'h wi.h" 
in Ihc nnd.Ue. which is .loscd l.y a neatly littcd wood.ii j.ln.. of ihi- 
same thnkness as th.. t-i., ll,ron-h which passes a spin.lh-shapc peer 
fonr inches h.ny. This is tl,e Kcncral style of top nscd in the rc-ion 



niadc to he spun with a 
i 1)\ men as well as 



iuidini; stick 




mentioned, hut another kind 
and cord: tln'se are often u^ 
liy boys. 

On the lower Yukon the children amuse them- 
selves in winter by siunninj;- tctps on the wooden 
th)or of the kashim. The i;ame is played by each 
child spinuinji- its lop and then hurrying' out 
through the long i>assage to the entrance, making 
a complete circuit around the outside of the 
building, then back to the interior, trying to 
return before the toj) has ceased spinning. These 
toys are spun between the two hands, the upper 
part of the spiiulle being lield n])right lietween 
the palms. 

Among other games, the chililren also have a 
buzz, usually made by stringing a doubly perfo- 
rated, flattened disk on a cord. The two ends of ilie cord are tied 
together and the ends of the looj) thus formed are liehl in their liands, 
so that by tightening and relaxing their hold the disk is caused to 
twirl about, exactly as is done with a similar toy by civilizeil chil- 
dren. These buzzes are usually made of wood, ivory, or bone, 
although of recent .years some are made of metal. 1 obtained one at 
St Michael nuule from the adjoining phalangeal bones of some animal, 

probably a seal, still 
united by their carti- 
lage. The string is a 
single cord of sinew, 
which is made fast be- 
tween the two middle 
bones, and at each end 
of the string is tied a 
fl.. I.':: 'i„v «.i(..ii..-.i..ri-... short cross-stick for 

grasping. 
Another toy obtained at St .Michael, represented in ligure 1'SA. is the 
image of a woodpecker made of wood fastened to a small wooden 
spatula by means of a stout <)uill in place of legs. The surfa<e of the 
spatula is dotted over with red paint to represent food. By means of 
a string fastened to the point of the bird's beak and passing down 
throniih a hole in the spatula, the child is enabled to imll the bud's 
head down. On releasing it, the elasticity of the Muill throws it up 




342 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



again, thus giving a jiecking motion and imitating the movements of 
feeding. Various toys of this character are made by the Eskimo to 
represent familiar animals or birds. 





Figure 124 represents a toy obtained at the village of Sabotnisky, on 

thi> lower Yukon. It is a slender, flat rod a little over an inch wide 

and about 10 inches long, jierforated with six round holes at equal 

intervals along its length, through 
which is passed in and out a sinew 
cord, having its ends fastened to the 
extremities of a small, narrow strip of 
fur, forming an endless loop. Grasp- 
ing the rod by the handle at one end, 
the child draws on the free part of the 
cord, causing the strip of fur to run in 
and out of the holes along the surface, 
thus representing a mouse. 
The children also have small figures of birds, seals, and other ani- 
mals, which their fathers carve in ivory, bone, and wood. Along the 

seacoast ivory is the material ordinarily Tised for making these objects, 

but among the I'^skimo of the tundras, or along the 

rivers of the interior, bone or deerhorn is more com 

monly employed. The bird images usually represent 

geese, murres, or other waterfowl, and are made flat 

upon the lower surface, so tliat thej' sit upright. 

On St Lawrence island, and at vari^ms other points 

which were visited, many of these objects were ob 

tained, of which the toy bird sliowu in figure 125 is 

an example. They are similar in character to the 

images with which a sort of game is played among 

the eastern Eskimo. 
In addition to the foregoing objects, dolls made for 

girls are among the most interesting of the children's 

toys. On St Lawrence island two were obtained; 

tbese are shown in figure 7, plate xciii, made rudelj 

of wood, and figure 8, plate xciii, which is of ivoi j. 

The makers of these displayed very little skill oi 

artistic ability, as might be expected from their geneial lack of ( ulture 

in this direction compared with the people of the <ul)a(ent Anieiican 

coast. Along the Alaskan shore wherever I went, as Mell as along 




-CM i\ <U)ll (i) 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOG 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 




nOLLS (THIIITErN-SIXTEENTHS) 



a 43 



Yukon ami l\iiskok\vi 




ruM rivers and on Xunivak isla.ul, .lolls w.mv innnd 

m connnon use. Tliey are usually small inui-esof woo.l. ivoiy. ■„■ l„.ne- 

indeed, t!ie only instance that I saw of the use of elay anu.n- t"he llsknuo 

for nuikinj,' iina.ues of any kind was a pair of rudelv 

modeled dolls rei)resentin;; the hi^ad and body, 

which were obtained at Ka/.binsky, on the lower 

Yukon. One of these dolls is shown in li^ure l-_'(i. 

The inartistic character of these day li.uures is in 

striking contrast to the carviiifjs iiroduced by the 

same people. 

The dolls usually represent the anatonii.' details 

of both sexes, and are from an inch to a foot or more 

in leujith. Many of them are carved to represent 

grotescjue human tigures, but the inajoriiy are sim- 
ply upright ivory images with the arms by the sides 

(as represented in figure 2, ]>late \ciii) or held in 

various positions across the body, sometimes one 

baud being placed in front and the other behind n.;.i.::-Wu,«i,.„.i..ii(i). 

the back. INlany of the natives use hard material 

merely for the ujiper half of the body, the legs being made of skin, 

stufled with hair or skin to give them a semblance to the natural 

form. 

An ivory tigure froia ("ape I'rince 
of NVales (tlgurc I, plate xciiii rejire- 
seiits an old man with his hands 
clas])ed behind the back. The arms 
ami legs are carved free li'om the body 
and the work gives evidence of con- 
siderable skill and ingenuity. 

Oidy from lUg lake, between the 
lower Yukon and the mouth of the 
Kuskokwim. were dolls obtained with 
heads hollowed out, so that the eyes 
and the moutii were iiierced into the 
cavity. The back of the heads of 
these dolls, after the interior had 
been excavated, were replaced by a 
thin woodt'ii cover neatly lifted in 
the opening. I'Mgure 127 represents 
a hollnwheail. wooden doll from Hig 
lake. Figiue "), plate xciii, from the 
same locality, is ma<le of bone, with 
the head litteil on a wooden pin (iro- 

iecting from the body, so that it turns as on a swivel. 

Another doll from Big lake (ligure IL'S) is sinnlar to the preceding and 

is clothed m reindeer skiu. The head is made of bone and the beads 




> - 



i 



. i-jS_l),,M ([jcarly J). 



344 



THE F,f;KLMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



M^ 






1\ 






%>*, 



(f> 



attacliecl to a cord passed tliroush lioles at the corners of the iiioutli 
rci)reseiit labrets. The interior of the head is excavated. 

The faces of dolls made in representation of females are etched to 
show the eyebrows, and sometimes the tattooing; the faces of dolls 
mnile to represent men have labrets of beads or pieces of ivory inserted 
at the corners of the mouth. The method of dressing the hair of women 
and their nose- and ear-rings are represented 
by hair and beads hung in the i^roper i)laces. 
Some of the ivory dolls are provided with brace- 
lets and bead necklaces as shown in figure 3, 
plate xciii, from Ilotham inlet. 

Large dolls of wood, from the country be- 
tween Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, have the 
eyes and the mouth repie 
sented by pieces of ivorj 
inlaid in the wood, as in hg 
ure 129, from Kaialigamut. 
One of the most ingenious 
of these toys was obtained 
at Point Hope, on the Arctic 
coast, and is represented in 
tigure 130. It is made of 
wood, and the well-carved head has a short string 
of beads attached to each side of the forehead toi 
earrings, while the labret holes at the corners of 
the mouth show that it is intended to represent 
a man. Each eye is indicated by a blue bead, 
inserted so that the hole in the bead forms the 
pupil. The neck is in the form of a smooth, round 
pin, about half an inch in diameter, which sets 
in a deep socket cut into the shoulders. About 
the lower end of this pin are fastened two ends 
of a cord which is passed around in opposite direc- 
tions and out in front, through two small holes 
in the body, and are tied together; thence they 
pass downward through a larger hole to the back. 
The lower part of the body is grasped from be- 
hind by the thumb and last two lingers, leaving 
the other two fingers resting in the loop of the 
colli. By slight pressure, either on one side or 
the other of the loop, the head of the doll is made to turn to the right 
or left at will. Another ivory doll (figure 6, plate xciii), from Uiia- 
laklit, represents a woman holding a cliild in her arms. Similar d<dls 
are sometimes made to represent a small child in the hood of the fur 
coat, after the fashion in which women are wont to carrj-^ their infants 
throiiuhotit this reuiou. 




BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XCIV 



pr(oT^ton5r^ 




SNOW KNIVES 'ABOUT one-fourth 



TOY I MACK.-— SNOW K.MXKS 



34.-) 




Dinctiincs to one side. Tlio mak- 



T u. gu-ls reMuently lu.ve a „„ Us va.vinj: i,, si... ,|,.. 

sn,alK.ronesb.,n^ma.leso,l,attl,... ,„,,,„•. w,,i|.. .nakn... 

a hru.f v,s„ to S,e.,.e isla.ul. ,wo ,„„,. ,,,. ,„ tl... l,o„.s.. wh,.,. Ix. 
s 0PI....1 ann>s...l us by ^vatduMS thoir o,,,H,nunitv. xvlnlc w.. won- busy 
about other things, to plac tlieir .lolls staiulinj; i,, a semici.rk. bHb,; 
us upon the fh.or, while they sat .,uietly behiiid as tho....), „eiM,ittiM- 
then- dolls to take a lo.,k at the stranuers. I,, .-onne.ti..,, with these 
toys girls have also a eoinplete outlit of toy b,.,l,lui>; ma.le iron, tlie 
skills..! mice or leiiiuiii.j.s. small -lass mats, toy boots, niittei.s, and 
clotliiuf;-, all patterned after timse nse.l 
by the peojtle of the locality. 

Other favorite toys of the chihlien 
of both sexes are snow knives, which 
are from four to fifteen inches Ion-; 
aud are made of ivory, bone, or wood, 
the two first-named materials beiiij;- 
most commonly used. They are small 
at the handle and expand towar.l 
the end, usually curving- ui)war.l and s 
ers fre(iiiently .show great artistic skill iii these objects: the handle 
is often tip])ed with a carving representing the head of a salmon, gull, 
seal, or oth.'r animal: the grip of the handle is insured by various pro- 
jections, which sometimes consist .>f a series of three or nmre munde.l 
bos.ses pierced by a small hole in the middle, as in ligure I.', plate xciv. 
from the l.)wer Yukon. This specimen is well carved from a iiieceofbone. 
Figur.' .'.. plate x<;iv, represents a large, hands.miely maile ivory 
knife from Kofiiguuugumut; the raven totem m:irk is etched on each 

side: three projecting 
knobs on the handle 
are ]iierced and the 
h oil's plugged witli 
w.)od. Anotiier speci- 
men, from Clialitinut 
(ligure 4, ]>late \civi, 
is made of ivory and has four murre heads in relief on the handle; 
the surface is ornamented with etched lines. An ivoiy knil'e I'roin 
Ikogmut (figure 7, plate xciV) has two l.)ng. rounde.l proje.'tions exlend- 
iug forward from the butt. 

A large, haiids.)inely made ivory knife I'dmi Kiniigunugumul (figure 1, 
phitexciv) has on the under side of tlie handle live rounded prqje.-tions 
which are jjierced for the insertion of plugs .)!' wood: the raven totem 
sigu is etched (m both sides. Figure .'.. plate xciV, illustrates an ivory 
knife from Cai)e Vancouver, heavily etched on b..ih sides: on the handle 
are three set.s of concentric circles, pierced in the center and with 
wooden plugs inserted in the holes. A .leerhorn knife fr.>ni Kushuiink, 
re])rcsented in figure !>, plate xcn. has a long slit in llii. hand!.', in 




34() 



THE Ei^KIMO Al'.OUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETH. ANN. 18 



■wliicli is wumid a piece, of spruce root to afford a firm grip. Another 
deerlioni knife, from Big lake (tignre 11, plate xciv), is very plainly 
made. A well-made deerliorn knife from tlie lower Knskokwim (figure 
13, plate XCIV) has the haudle pierced with a large hole from which a 

slit extends forward. 

Figure 0, plate xciv, represents a 
Gr^ ' ^ handsome ivory knife, obtained on 

^'' ~~~- ■ -• "^ Togiak river by Mr Applegate. 

The handle is curiously slit, with a 
cross-bar in the opening, and au or- 
dinary conventional design is etched 
on the surface. Another knife, obtained also by Mr Applegate at the 
same i)lace (figure S, plate xciv), is of deerhorn and is elaborately 
etched. The end of the handle is carved to represent the head of a 
bird, probably a gerfalcon. A well-made ivory knife from Nulukhtulo- 
gumut (figure 10, i^late xciv) has the haudle carved to represent the 




I.13— Toy b. 




Fig. 134— Tov l<rii:ik fnmi St. L:i 



sl.and (J). 



^~ 



head of a salmon. A small and rather rudely made ivory knife from 
Ikogmut (tiguie ll2, plate xciv) also has the handle carved in the shape 
of a salmon-head. 

A large number of these knives were collected, most of them being 
carved and etched in great variety of pattern. Many of these objects 
in the National Museum repre 
sent localities from the extreme 
southern limit of the Alaskan 
Eskimo nearly to Point Barrow. 
These knives are rarely nsed 
for any other purpose than as 
toys; the children play with 
tlieni in winter, cutting up the 
hard, drifted snow, or marking 
thereon various fantastic fig- 
ures representing mammals, birds, or other fancies. In a village south 
of the Yukon mouth I saw children make figures of animals in the 
snow and then run about cutting them up with their knives, evidently 
imitating the killing of game by the hunters. 

Figure LSI represents a toy figure of a white bear, which was 
obtained on the Diomede island. It is made of wood and has a raw- 



\' 



-Ivorv iinn^e of r 



-I 

.1 



•"^•'='-"™i T.1YS— sON-(;s 347 

hide barness on tlie neck and back, siniilar to that nsod f.,r .1,,.^. TIk- 
body IS fashioned fn.m a sin.uh. pjc-c. but the U-s an> ma.h. s.Mr.ratHv 
and are attached to tl.o b..,ly by a ,„.jj mscrtcd in a hole and lasiencil 
by other J)egs. 

A toy sled from St Lawrence ishmd ,; lij;i,re 1.!-) is carved IVoiii a 
single piece of ivory aTid has two small Ivory lij;nres of doga attaelieil 
to it with sinew cord. 

Figure 13:5, from the ^ainc locality, represents a toy fijinre of a white 
bear carved from a sinj;le |)ie<e of ivory. 

Fi.yure 134 ilhistrates an ivory model of a kaiak. bom St Lawrence 
island, and is a representation of the boats in use at that place. Look- 
ing nj) from the niaidiole is a hnman head carved in relief and jnst 
back of the manhole is rein-esented an inllated sealskin lloat. 

The specimen from Norton bay. shown in lignre Vi'i, is an ivorv 
figure of a white bear with a man lying along its back. This toy is 
intended as an illustration of an occurrence in one of the folktales. 

MXSIC AND DANCKS 

The Eskimo of Bering sea and the lower Yukon are very fond of 
singing. Songs have a prominent place in their religious observances 
and festivals, as well as in their sjiorts and dances. They al.so .-ierve to 
while away the time when traveling at .sea and .sometinu-s on shore. 
.Men are usually the singers, and will often keej) u)) a monotonous 
chant for hours when traveling a long distance by water, and 1 often 
heard my men singing at idglit during sledge Journeys when they were 
unable to sleep from the severe cold or for other cau.se. On one occa- 
sion I asked one of the men who was singing at night why he did so, 
and he replied that it made him feel warnu'r. Frei|uenlly songs of this 
kind, and some of those used while daiu'ing, art; a mere series of 
meaningless syllables, such as at other times serve as a refrain. Songs 
are composed for various other jjurposes, sometimes to preserve a rec- 
ollection of past occurrences, to glorify some event, or for ridiculing 
one another: these latter are similar to the nitli songs of Greenland, and 
are said to have been commonly used before white men canu' to -Vlaska. 
During my residence at St .Michael I heard of instaiu'cs of their hav- 
ing been sung by the Eskimo in .some of the villages on the tundra, 
between the mouths of Kuskokwim and Yukon river.s, before the assem- 
bled people in the kashim. The oidy result was the satisfaction gaine.l 
by the victor's consciousness that he had enlisted the sympathy of his 
fell()w-town.smen and the chagrin of the one who felt himself worsted. 

Songs are employed by shamans in their incantations and durmg 
reliiiious festival.-^. " Special songs are sung to the shades ..f the dead 
or to the inuax of various kinds to which the people are addressmg their 
petitions, either for the pnrpo.se of propitiating the superior i.owcis to 
prevent evil or to secure successful hunting. The .songs in memory 



34S THE KSKIMO AliOUT BKRIXC STRAIT Ietmann. 18 

of ilic (lc;i{l lire lieaid at all festivals to departed shades, and at times 
are of an inexpressibly mournful eliaracter. 

Almost invariably son^s of every description, when sunj;- in the 
kashim, are accompanied by the beating in regular time of one or more 
tambourine like drums iu the hands of old men, and the drummers, 
who are usually the leaders, sometimes sing a song, phrase by phrase, 
a repetition by the rest of the people following. At other times they 
are the only singers: this is i)articularly the case when dances are being 
])erformed. 

Songs for the great festivals of a religious character and olten those 
in honor of the dead, or for the bladder feast, are practiced for a long 
period by the villagers so that they may be given correctly at the proper 
time, the composer of the song usually teaching it to the others a few 
words at a time. Others of the songs have been handed down from 
ancient times, being transmitted, like the folktales, from generation to 
generation. 

Uuriug one of my sledge journeys I chanced to stop at a village near 
Cape Vancouver where the people were learning a song for the feast to 
the dead. Iu the evening the lights were all extinguished in the 
kashim and iu complete darkness an old man gave out the song, a few 
words at a time, and about twenty-tive men, ranged around the middle 
of the room, united iu singing the words to the time of a single drum 
beaten by another old man. The burden of the song I did not catch, 
but the refrain was a repetition of the syllables itii'-ai-ya-hai'-yH-i/a, 
which serve for this purpose in many dirtercnt songs over most of this 
region. 

At another village iu the same district a song was rendered in parts, 
the bass being sung by a number of men who kept excellent time 
to the beating of several drums, while the women and the boys, who were 
all arranged together on one side of tlie room, joined in the chorus 
every few minutes, producing a very pleasing effect. One song that is 
sung ill a long, wailing chant is very effective, calling on the shades of 
the dead to enter the offerings that may be given them during the fes- 
tival in their honor. The jiart of tiiis song recorded at St Michael is 
as follows: 

Tii-kii -iiiiil-ii-i/"i -i'l tdi -liii-(i. A-Iti'-ai-i/a . Mi'i-klUg-H-miik kUn-ukh'-kuri-iim'-kin. 

Di-iiil linos fumf IjiTf. (Chorus.) Hair sealskin tent you-will-get (for a) 
.1 la'-ai-j/a'. 
(Chorus.) 

Tai'-kiii-ii-ka': tiin-tit'-iiti'ik clio-i/'okh'-kun-uni'-kiii. A-la'-ai-ya'. Tai'-kin-a-ka'. 

CoHirli,.ri-,<h., reiiideer skin 1r-i1 you will get (lor a). (Chorus.) Come here, <lo. 

During one festival to the dead that was witnessed the mourners who 
were making the gift offerings to the namesakes of their deceased rela- 
tives, entered and, dancing together iu the center of the kashim, sang an 
invitation to their dead ones to return. The burden of the song was 
that the absent ones were missed and were begged to return as their 
friends were lonely. The loud, wailing inauiier in which this song was 



FESTIVAL 



34',t 

luliit 



reiKlei-e.1 t.. the nuisi,- .,f tl,,. dn,„is an.l tl>,. st.-a.lv in...,ot..M., 
ot the dniinmeis iciuleivd tUo whole very ellective 

Tl.e <c.llc.vvin^ t«-., son^s pve a general i.iea -niie eharae.er ,.r those 
«uns a lest.vals ..,• pas.i.ne. The lim is a son;; of a Mah.n.n, h,u.,er 
lro.n the hea.l ot Ivol.ehue sound. He wishes for ,he tin.e ,o eol.e 
whe» the reindeer shall renew ti,eir horns, that the huntin.. se.son 
may be;. in. It was noted that the sann^ idea was repeated a"ain -n,.! 
a-am with e-.nstant repetition ..f the same el.orus. so thai ■. few 
phrases did duty for iiours: 



\-(i-<-lni,r-,i-li 



'(-'luiruA) 
t'l -a-i-ifa- 



■i/iid-ly lii'i-i-jiae-yae kin ■t/li'-kliii'i -ti 
imich (Chorus) 'io^m. 



X-ijne-l-iiii 



nihi-gid- 
■ <lcer Iiorns i 



The following- soiigr. composed and sun^' by a man at Cape Triiae of 
Wales in Berin;;- strait, expressed his wish t) see the slups come in ilie 
spriujr, because his tobacco was gone: 

l-ght-i/luni-u tn-i-m-ae-iiu mai -li-riik 



rii-i-j/d-ae-iin 
llic mouiiI;iiu (Cliorua) 1 wish t.M-liiiii) 

diiin-mii-i-iiak . I-!liie-iju liiit-kil -ha-mii. 
tcifiet tiithf WMtor. iChonis) 1 sit oinljc lop. 

II III -i-uk-i>iik-iniin-d 
the hig boats coniili^ 
A-i)ii-ii<n-iiii ti-bii -lae-kii. 
(Chunisi tobaciotwith). 



l-ijiin-i-ijii-ijii 
(Chortib) 



ki-mif-tuii-iiiik I-ijun-ii-iiu-iju 
I «i8li to set- (Chorus) 



The foUowinu' music was written for ine by Hishoi) Sephers. an accom- 
plished Catholic missionary (afterward killed on the ui>per Yukon i.trom 
a soug suug by tlie K.skiuio during a dance at Ikognmt on tlie lower 
Yukon in the winter of 18711. This gentleman, who was a skilled nmsi- 
cian, said that the most remarkable thing he had noted in the songs of 
the Eskimo, both of the lower Vukon and of the adjacent coast of 
Bering sea, was the ease and accuiary witli which they raised and 
dropped an exact octave when singing: 



Despite the fact that these peojjle are so fond of their own music, 
they are unable to tmderstand or enjoy that of a more complicated 
character. At St Michael some of the men were freipicntly invited 
into one of tli<' Inmses where there was a small organ, and the agent of 
the Fur company would play simple melodies for them. In every 
instance the visitors kept perfectly (juiet, and watched the keyboard 
of tiie instrument closely, as if fascinated. Finally. I asked an ..Id 
man who had attended several of these concerts if he enjoyed tiie 
music, and he replied fraukly that he did not, because, said lie. ■' I 



350 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eih ann. 18 

do not iimler.staud what the noise says. It sounds confusedly in my 
ears and is strange to them, so that I do not know what it says. I like 
better to hear the drum and singing in the kasliim, for I understand 
it." But lie added that he liked to watch the movements of the per- 
former's lingers as they sped over the kej'board, the rapid motion pleas- 
ing liim. I afterward made the same inquiry of other men from various 
distant localities along the coast, when they heard the music at St 
Michael, and received an almost identical reply. 

The drums used by the Eskimo of western Alaska and on the adjacent 
coast of Siberia are made in one pattern, having a rounded tambourine- 
like frame, over one side of which is stretched a thin, parchment like 
covering, usually made from the bladders of seals and walrus. The cover 
is held in place by a (iord of sinew or rawhide, wound around the outer 
border of the drum in a suukeu groove, enabling the cover to be tight- 
ened at will. 

The frames, usually made of spruce, are from one to three inches in 
width and are bent to form a ring, either circular or somewhat pear- 
shape in outline, measuring from ten to thirty inches in diameter. The 
largest ones seen in use were in the district between lower Yukon and 
Kuskokwim rivers. Near the Ivuslevak mouutains a drum was seen 
covered with tanned reindeer skin, which was the only exception to 
the ordinary covering that was noted, and this was due to the fact that 
the usual material could not be obtained at that point. 

Ordinarily the ends of the drum frame overlap and are fastened with 
sinew or rawhide cords, which pass through lioles in the wood; but 
along the coast from Bering strait northward, drums were seen which 
had the ends of the frame beveled to wedge-shape points and inserted 
in a short, intervening piece of ivory of the same width and thickness 
as the frame. These ])ieces were beveled with a deep, wedge-shape 
slot to receive the ends of the wood, and pierced with holes through 
which were passed wooden pegs to fasten the ends of the frame in place, 
thus forming a neatly made joint. This splice is carved on its outer 
border to match the groove on the edge of the frame for the reception of 
the cover lashings. They are usually fitted with a handle from four to 
six inches long, with a square notch in its upper surface for the recep- 
tion of the lower edge of the frame. The latter is ordinarily held in posi- 
tion by sinew lashings passed through holes and thence through corre- 
sponding holes in tlie handle just below the notch, or are passed around 
the handle. A drum from Sledge island and another from Cape Wan 
karem, Siberia, are attached to their handles with wooden pegs inserted 
through holes at the inner end of the handle and through the drum 
frame in the notch. These handles are commonly plain rods of ivory, 
deerhoru, or bone, round or oval in section, with the ends rounded, but 
in many instances they are carved in various patterns. 

Oneof tliese handles (number 43807), which was obtained at Sliakto- 
lik, is of v,'alrus ivory, and is six inches long by an inch and a half in 



NEI.'^ON] 



DRTMS 



3:.i 



haineter. It ,s carve-l ,„ tl.e lonn of a .alms, tl.o wHln.a.I.. I,...! 
luM..^ plaee.1 at tl,. n.n.r end: .,„ the l„wer si.lo a.o r„„r .li:,...>„a 
grooves for t.n,or rests, atul at the rear tl,e armnalV ,11,,,.,... :ue rn-re- 
sente.1. The back ,s etehe.l with short lines to „uli,..t' l.ris.lv h '.irs 
A handle Iro.n Point IIoix-. on the Areti.' ...ast i liRur.. i;;.i, is oV ivorv" 
tonr inehes lonj;-. At one end is earved a human faee. -.vith s„,all l,ha> 
beads inlaid t.,r eyes an,l the ni.mth ineised: alon- th.. h.wor side ue 
lour fm.uer j-rooves. and an ivory strip is lilted m tiie s,,naie .Int lor the 
endsot the drum frame. Another si.eein.en Iron, the same ,,laee (n.im- 





6-nnim hnniUc (5). 

ber fi;l798) is similar to the precedinji. but has the faec enriously dis- 
torted. The tip of the handle is j)atched with a bloek of wooil neatly 
fastened with five wooden pegs. 

A handle of reindeer born from St .Alicliael (lijiure l.??) measures 
five inches in length and represents the head and neck of a sand hill 
crane. The beak is ojien, and small, round incisions mark the eyes 
and ears; the slot for the fraiiu-of the drum is at the base of the neck, 
and the wings of the bird are indicated by an incised line on each side, 
extending diagonally to the rear, where they meet on the back; short, 
parallel, incised lines represent the (piill feathers. A drum obtained at 
Sledge island (number 
45401 1 has a handle made 
from a section of deerhorn 
without orna mentation. 
The frame, made of si.ruce, 
is slightly ]>ear-shai)e, with 
the small end next to the 

handle, and is about i'd inches in diameter. The ends overlap and are 
fastened with sinew cord. It is fastened in the slot of the handle by 
a wooden i)in, and is beveled both ways on the inside from a central 
ridge. On the outer surface, near the up|)er edge, is a dee,) groove to 
receive the braided sinew cord that fastens the cover, which has the 
loo,ied end attached to a inojecting nooden jieg on the frame to the 
right of the handle. 

In a drum (number .■;sS4iii obtained at ('ai)e Vancouver, the frame. 
ma<le of sjunice wood. 3 inches broad, is bent in a circle. L's inches in 
diameter, the overlapping eiids benig sewed together with rawhide <-ord. 




85-2 



THE KSKIMd Ar.OlT BERING STRAIT 



Over this fVaine is stretched a cover of walrus or wliite-wliale iatestiue, 
lifld in phue by a cord in a groove around the miiUlle of the frame. It 
h:is a large handle, 20 inches long, made of the same material as the 
frame, and largest ou the inner end, which is in the shape of a sea- par- 
rot's head. Ou the back of the bird's necli is a scjuare notch, an inch 
dee|), into wldch the frame fits, and outside of whicth the handle projects 
about 20 inches. The bill of the sea- parrot is colored red ; the rest of the 
handle is tlie color of the wood, except a band of red near the middle. 

These large drums are frequently held by one man while the other 
beats tliem with a long, slender rod. As with the snuiller drums, they 
are frequently struck so that the rod taps against the frame at the 
same time that it strikes the cover, thus producing a sharp, rapping 
sound which mingles with the more resonant tone. 

The International Polar Expedition obtained at Point Barrow large 
drums, somewhat similar to that collected by me at Cape Vancouver, 
with handles also carved on the inner ends to represent the headsof birds, 
one of which is that of a cormorant and another the head of a murre. 




Fig. 138— Ivory baton 



In the country between the lower Yukon and the Kuskokwim, as well 
as on the American sliore of Bering strait, I saw large and small drums 
used at the same time, producing a pleasing combination of sound. 
The drum is held by the handle in the left hand, the top slightly inclined 
away from the drummer and about on a level with his chin. When 
excited by the sound and movement, the drummers sometimes raise the 
drums almost at arm length, so that the handles are on a level with 
their brows. They are beaten in measured time, two strokes in quick 
succession, then a short pause, and two strokes again. Each drummer 
has a single slender, flat rod about 12 t<> 1(> inches long, which he holds 
in the right hand. 

While witnessing a festival to the dead on the lower Yukon, I saw 
people dancing near the graves to time beaten with a stick on the end 
of a log projecting from one of the houses, and another ])arty dancing 
on the ice on the river to time beaten on a piece of driftwood which had 
been taken to the river for the purpo.se. This was the only instance 
south of Norton sound in which I saw such an accompaniment to danc- 
ing. On the American shore of Bering .strait, and thence northward 



OANCKS 



.•5:.3 



slu.rt. heavy l.ar..n ot ualrns iv„r.v is .,..„..,allv „s,.,l. Sucl; In i ,snn 
.Hout (hgure l;^S, was ohtai,,.-! at INu-t .laren..... It is l.U i,,..,,,. i,. 
onnth ,y an u.H.mm ,l.an.,.te.-. rmuuhMl, Ik-vvUmI at .-ach en.l, and i.as 
tl.c slight curve ..I the tusk from xvhieh it was ,n..l,.. l.'jne sh.vin.^s 
are h.innd aroiiiid the butt l.y a braided sinew n,rd t„ allbrd a -ri,. -.nd 
a deerhoru ,.e- elos,. to the prujeetinfi end of the han.ne preventVthe 
hand Irom .slii.pinj;-. Exten.lin- from in^ar this ,„■.■ to the otiier end of 
the o-ri,, is a loop of twisted sinew eord wineh aids in holdin- the instrn- 
ment (irmly. On its outer end tiie .nonth. eves, ainl blowlndes of ■, 
right whale are rei)resented l>y incised liolesand pits, i'.etwoen the 
blowlades are inserted some small, downy feathers, liel.l in j.lace by 
wooden pegs, to represent the spouting of tiie whale. 

In addition to tlie dances i)erforraed dining the various festivals and 
described iu eonnectiou with those ceremonies, various others are pia.-- 
ticed among the Eskimo with whom 1 came in contact. These latter 
are generally executed for pastime, and are often merely a series of 
movements sujiposed to be graceful or ])leasing: at other times (hey 
are distinctly symbolic. fre(|ueiitly carrying out and illustrating a long 
narrative Ijy gestures and sometimes aceoinpanied by a song. Dances 
are usually accompanied by the beating of one or moie drums and by 
the singing of the drummers, ami sometimes of other males, but at t imes 
tiie drummers cease, and the dancing continues to (he sound of voices. 
Some of these performances are extremely grotesque, the dancers being 
ycmng men, often <|uite nude or .simply wearing a pair of ornamental 
trunks made of fine deerskin, who sing or utter loud cries and leajt 
about, gesticulating with tiieir arms and legs and contorting their bodies 
in every conceivable manner. The object of such dances is apparently 
to amuse the si)ectators. and the successful dancers frciiuenlly canst; 
great laughter ainoiig the assembled people by the absurdity of their 
attitudes and movements. The yourig men exert themselves iu fiiendly 
rivalry at such timesuntil they are forced to (-ease from .sheer exhaustion. 
r>oth men and women take part in the dances, each having <!ertaiu 
movements peculiar to himself, fhe women remain with their feet 
planted scpiarelN on the floor and. swaying tiie body and slowly gesdc- 
ulating with hands and arms, go through the (igures periiii(ted to tliem, 
always keeping time to the music. Very commonly the women have a 
long, feather wand in each hand which they wave slowly back and forth 
as tiiey move. During certain religious festivals they also use linger- 
masks— small, round, tlat pieces of wood with a iirojection bchiw, through 
which are one or two lioles for admitting the first or tlie first and second 
fingers: they are carved to reiircsent a hiuiiaii face or a face aipjioscil to 
lielong to .some animal, an inii'i. or some suiiernatural being. They 
are generally iiainted and surrounded by a halolikc fringe, formed 
by the niistanding hair on a narrow band of skin, usually of Ilie rein- 

IS KTH -■-') 



;i;,| THE K-^KIMo AM'MT |iKI{IN(J >TR\IT iirrii a»> H 

ilit-r <ir wi>lf. Tliry art* alM> (iriiiiiiiciiti-il witli i|iiill liMtliciNof various 
hiriU, rr<-i|iliMilly Ii|>|M-tI «illi down. 

Till* iiii-ii onliiiaiilv i«-Kt tin- \v<M;:lit ot Ili<- hotly lirst on imio tVnit ami 
llicii oh the othiT, wliili- llii- fiii- foot !> a<lvaiiri-<l, tlie liall resting on 

llii- tlooi' anil llic I I i-ontinuall\' raiHi'il ami l(iou;.'iit down witli a 

: iiinn|> in (inn- to the Ucaiin;: of tlie drums. At tlif sanit- time 
• c-otitort I III' IxmIv and ;:i*«tirtilal(> witli the liamis and arin.s 
II I '. iiiiiiii' million. l-'ri-<|iu*iitly tin- dam-rr sin;.'s or utters loud cries at 
r(';:iilar inti-i \alH, N|)rini:i>>u IVoiii om- side to tin- oilii'r. Tin* rytlimic 
iHMiinc of till- dniiiis and the aci-om|ianyiiiy soii;;s work the dancers 
to a |iit<-h of ureal rvcifemeiil, ;iiid they sometiliies fjo on for hours 
with ilii'He Moleiit i-xertioiis, the perspii atloii rolling down their hodies, 
lltitll the\ reu-si- tioin e\ liMilstioii. 

Willi rare e\i-e|>tions the daiifes are |mtIo! ihimI in the kashiiii, tuktii;; 
liliiee during the winter moiiihs. that is, I'rom ()i-tol>er niitil the end 
otWpiil. Hotli soiifjs ami ilanres are iiractired lielorehaml when pre 
paiint; tor any ^reat t'estival. In addition to the larger perrorinanees 
iK-i'oinpaiivint; the more important festivals, there are niiiall dam-es u( 
rather lrei|nent iMiiirrence anion;; the villa</ers diiiin;; the early ]iart ot 
wiiilei ; liiit the^e are inlormal all'airs perloiined tor auiusemeiit by a 
tew of the yoiiiiK men. 

.\ ceremonial dance is performed by a stra!i;;er who enters for the 
lir>t time the kashiiii of a villa^je. On sm-h occasion he is e.\pecled to 
make a Kiiiall offering or gift ol' jiropiiiation to the headman, who 
di\ idcH il among the other old mem. The stranger then ste]is out upon 
till- lloor and dances for a short time, sometimes singing a song express 
iiig hi." frieiMUhip for the people he is with, or merely a chorus .song. 
In this w.iy he i> considereil to have introdiiced himself properly and 
thus lo have gained the Ireedoin of the kashiin. 

.Vt St Michael we were usually invited to the lirst dances In-lil in 
the k.ishim every autnmii ll^icli year we made a practice of carrying 
a litlle liiliai-co. which we liaiided In the headman upon eiileriiig. and 
this he would divide into small portions and distribute among the 
other iiii'ii. .\l such times, if one of iis would step out upon the tloor 
and execute a short daiu'e alter the style of the ICskimo, it was received 
wilh great merriiiienl by the assembled villagers. 

'I'lie d.iiii-cs iif (he lUkiimi whether on the islamU of liering sea or 
on the banks of Knskok wini i i\ er, are very similai- in general character, 
but loeal vaiialioiis are common. < )ii .Sledge Island, in March, I.SSll, 
v\a^ witnessed a lurioiis and characleristii; performance, dilfcrent from 
any Ihin^ sei'ii elNewheie. NN'c I'oniid the people on the verge of star 
\ntioii. and iiearl\ all ol their dog^ had died from lack of food. Our 
own ilo;:.H were dyiiii.' from the >anie cause, so we decided to return 
at oiice to the ni.iinland. When the headman of the villagers learned 
this he eami- til Ih'u ns to remain at lea^t one night with them so that 
Ihey iiiiuhi show us their appreiiation of our visit, promisiii;,' that the 



^"■'""' I'AXCE OX Sl.i:,,,;,,; ,sl,m, 3.5 

inhabitants xvonl.l find somHlun- with wlii.-l, m t..nl ,„„■ ..n.l th-.t 

they wouhl -ivc a (hi. ice in the kaslijm i,, „„r ho.i„r 

About two l,m,rs .f,er .huk w wne i„vi,o,l urn, ,1... kashin, an.l 
given the pla.-e of hnnor at the rear end .,r the r.„„„. Half a d(,.en .„..„ 
meliuhng the headmen of the vilia-e. stepped out in time to si„oi„.; 

and dinmnung. and went throuf-h the movements of an ordinary danee 
sneh ashadbeenseenattliebi.ginnin-sof.h.nresarCapeDarby Ini- 
laklit. and elsewliere somhwanl to tlie montli of Knskokwim riv."-r. 

One of these dance.s wore about liis brow a fdk't made from the 
skill of the head and neck of an Adams loon, with the beak left on and 
projeeting over the middle of the forehead: another man wore a lillet 
made from the white breast of a muire with the wing-feather of a 
gerfaleon stuck in it so as to stand erect over the Ibrehead. 

Then a man and a woman took the lloor. iierforming some li-ures or 
movements such as I had seen used by a coiiiile at Cnalaklit. Next 
was a dance of similar character by a halfgrown boy and a girl; their 
motions were greatly varied, but in iierfect unison; they postured with 
the body inclined tirst to one side and then to the other, alternating 
with an inclination forward until their heads nearly touched the tinor. 
]Many of their movements were characterized by the swaying i;race 
tliat is notable in many of the dances of tliese ])eople. 

When this was tinished nine women and girls seated themselves <-lose 
together, cross-legged, and stripped to the waist, on a bench extend- 
ing along one si(U' of the room,iacing in one direction along the length 
of the bench. Drummers and singers struck np a medley dilferent 
from anything I had ever lier.rd, and the women on the bench responded 
by executing a long and coini)licatecl series of swaying motions with 
the head, arms, and body, in perfect unison. I'roni where I sat the 
dancers were in profile, and their light-coldicd bodies showed in strong 
contrast against the sooty wall. Their slow, regular motions, with 
bodies swaying alternately from one siile to the other, now inclining 
forward and then swaying back, the arms constantly waving in a series 
of graceful movements, presented a remarkably pleasing sight. 

'i'he headman asked me if 1 liked the dance, and 1 told him that I 
did and that 1 thought it a good one. whereupon he seemed greatly 
pleasedand told metliat several of the dancers were his wives. I)ire<-tly 
afterward he called out something to the singers, and the latter iniMie- 
diately began a different song and the women a dillerent set of motions. 
In this way the headaum changed the dances until over twenty distinct 
songs and sets of motions had been executed: some of the .songs and 
movements were done in very slow time, while others were lajiid. All 
of the movements were evidently conventional and carefully learned 
by the ])erformers, as they were execnb'tl with great regularity. 

On one occasion, at S.ibotnisky, on tin* lower Yukon, a dance was 
given for my benetit by several villagers. Two women f.x.k the most 
proiniueut part. One of the perlbrnieis by her gestures tolil the story 



;$.')(; Tiu: kskisio aiii>i t lu.itiM; stuait [e™ .vx> .« 

i.f li«T i.itlicr'H lilf iiinl ImUU's tluriiiK tlu' wars among tlio villa^iMH 
|iri'< i«Imh; tl»<' .irriviil •>!' tin- wliitf iiKii; tin- Ufstiiros were iiiaiiily 
lN-yi>iiil my fi<iii|trclicif<ii>ii, Imt tli<' I'.skiiiui uboiit luu itppL-an-il to 
iiiiilfrHiaiiil (Ill-Ill all. I i-'Uilil iiitor|iri-t tin- iiintioii'^ nf st<*altliy a|i|iroa(-li 
ami ii'ii'iMt. iliiMi a h(|'||(;;;|i- with tlic ciiciiiy ami tin.- lli^rlit, I'liiling by a 
Minlilrii turn and tin* killin;; of a |Mirsiicr liy a spt-ar thrust. In aililitioii 
thiM'i' \vi>ri- a gp'al lii'al of gi-stiiri- ami postiiro with hanil.s ami ImmIu-.s 
whirh Mfiiinl to lie lull iit' iiieaiiiii;; to the |ieo|ile about m«-. This 
HoinairH ■■otn|ianioii wi-iit tliroii^li a Hories of imitioiiK di-Hrribiti;; lu-rry 
|iii-kiii).' ami various other orciipations of women in tin- Biiiiiiner ami fitll. 
Piiriiit; all tlu-ir iiiovcimMits both of thi-ni wcie extremely graeetiil ami 
ki'i't aii-iirate liini- to the iiiusii-. 

On I'fliniary l-'. ls.s(». | remained over ni^'ht in the villap- of I'lialak- 
III, where a nniiiber of ilam-es were ;.'iven in my honor. Soon after <iark 
I was invited to the kashiin. whei-e a do/en \ouii;; men were stripped to 
the waist and rant;ed around the room in a eirrle. l-'ive or six old men 
oIimmI near tiie lamp at the rear end of the room beating a drum and 
singing one of the eominon daiiee songs; the young men postured and 
leaped with siii-li energy that the perspiration ran down their bodies, 
as it did also from the fares of the drum men. There seemed to boa 
rivalry between the musicians and the ilancer.s to outdo one another, 
and the singerH would stop to take bre.itli oeeasionally, i|uiek]y begin- 
ning again while the daneers were still ])anting. lausing laughter at the 
expense of the latter. This eoiitinued lor .some time, until the dancers 
acknowledged theiiiHelves defeateil ami sat down. Then a young man 
came out alone, stripped to the waist, and stood before the entrance 
hole in the middle of the room. On his face was a mask representing a 
wiilfliead. lie stood for a few moments appearing to look intently 
into the hole in the tloor while he pastured slowly back and forth with 
his arms and body: while he did this two women came up behind him. 
stood closi- by and began gesturing, imitating in perfect time every 
moiion tiiadi- by him. Then the time of the song sudilenly changed, the 
women >tepping out ipiiekly. one upon each side a few paces away, 
and all three piotured, .swaying back and forth to the song. The man 
moved first toward one woman then toward the oilier with a gliding 
motion and appeared to try to grasp them with one liaml. never losing 
the time and keeping the motion uniform with the movements of the 
women. After he had done this he resumed his first position, the women 
slep|M-d back to their former place, and the dance soon ended. This 
was said to represent a wolf hunting reindeer. 

When I his dance ended, tiie man who wore tlie wolf mask went out. 

but c.i Ill ag.iiii very i|iiickly weiring' a mask representing a human 

face; he took the .-ame position as before, beginning with a set of 
posiures of tlie arms ami body dilleient from those seen in the lirst 
dance, lie was joined b.\' the two women, one on each side of him, and 
all went ihroiigli tin- mcilion of picking berries, which was done very 



DANCKS AMI FKSIIVAI.S 



3:.7 



slowly will, a .•oiitininl ■sr.u-vM swayinu "f the l„„lv. Tlii. .lance, 
ended the iiciloriiiaiice. 

At Cai.e Darhy. „„ tl,.. sa.n.- joarNey. i passed a nii^ht w,il, ,1,.. vil- 
lagers and was invite.l int„ the l.ashi,,, with n.v ••.aapaiii,.,, to witness 
a dance given lor us. We went in and r„und the entire popnlalion of 
the village assembled. A small present of tobaeeo to the hea.linan 
was our oHering as strangers, after whieh we were given the ],lare,)f 
honor by the driiniiners at the rearend of the room. Tlie son- and the 
drum-b.'ating began at once, witli a ehorus song „f meanin-less'syllables 
like those sung in danees of eonventional style. A number of men and 
women kejit the tloor, going through a series of ordinary postures 
until they became tired and sat down. These were followed by a man 
and a woman who came forward and went through a new set of motion.s, 
which 1 was told they had learned from peojile on the shore of I'.eiing 
strait. Afterward a woman came out and imitated the gathering of 
eggs of sea fowl among the rocks. At certain intervals a song aceom- 
jianied her movements, which was intended to represent the cries of 
birds startled Irom their nests. 

FKASTS AXI) FKSinAI.s 

THE FTNCTION OF THE CELEHK A llnNS 

Among the Eskimo of lower Ivuskokwim and Yukon rivers and 
thence northward along the coast to Kotzebiie sound, as well as on the 
islands of IJeriug strait, the festivals t'orni some of the most important 
features of their social life. The same may undoubtedly be said of the 
Eskimo elsewhere in Alaska, but these remarks are intended to cover 
the regiou over which my personal observations extended. 

These festivals serve to enliven the long. de|)ressing evenings of 
Arctic winter, and at intervals render the cold, stormy season a period 
of enjoyment and feasting. They serve also to promote friendly inter- 
course between the jjeople of adjacent villages and districts. Through 
the festivals comes an interchange of products and manufactures of 
different localities, and, above all, they are important in expressing and 
carrying out the religious beliefs and ob.servaiices of these people. 

>;early or quite all of the formal festivals of the Eskimo in this 
region are of a more or less religious character. As examples of these 
may be noted the Fdadder feast and the Feast to the Dead. 

CALEM)Ai; (IF FESTIVALS 

Having been more familiar with the I'nalit Eskimo of Norton sound 
than with auy others of this region, I subjoin a list of festivals ob- 
served among them, although it is probably not complete. A .somewhat 
similar program exists among the other tribes within the limits of the 
region covered by the present paper. AVhile the same festival may 
exist in dilfcrent localities over a considerable area, rites vary locally 



;;".H TIIK K>KIMO Alion SlKltlM; STKAIT (irriiAXN.l* 

(•I .k i;ri«aeiT or Iims evtoiit, allli<iii;;li tin- <»Miti:il i<li-a is preservetl. 
IiiloKoiiiM- wicli till- l(ii'>-i.iii-^ ami Kiili«i-<|iKMitly with tin- Aiiicricaiis at 
St Mii-iiai'l ami mliarciit pans of N'ortuii Mtuml lias inoditifd in many 
ri-i^iH-i'tM ilir custumM of (III- i;>kiinii in tliat ic(;iiin. \et the ancient 
Lelifl-. .mil oliHt'i vamc!. are still pr^•^erve^l anionj; the ciMer people. 

Cert.iin festivals, Imwexer, are no lon^-r eeli'ltrated in the ilistrict 

iiaiiieil. perhaps the most striking (-han;:e liat« lieeii in the disuse of 

-•. wliii-h are still used in the <-iiinplieateil <-ereiiionials of the 

t.intx ol the ninntry lyinj; lietween the mouths of the Kiisko- 

1 vvim .mil the Yukon. Anions the I'nalit l^skiimi alxnit St .Michael I 

nnled the follow in;; festivals: 

I. .li' v"' il'xk, in Askin;: festival, which takes place each year about 
thi- middle or latter pai t of Noveinhei. 

■J. //i/ " </'i. the I'estival to the Dead. In this there are .songs and 
dances, with I'imhI otrerin;;s and iilia'.i'ins in honor of the dead. It is 
heiil the last of No\eiidM I or llie lir>t of Decenilier. 

:t. r/idii i i/iiA. the I'dadder least. This is held usually duritig the 
Iieceiul>er nioon and .sometimes extends into .lanuary. It is a festival 
l>cli.n;:iii;; essentially to the coast people, hut is still piesei vcd in 
mo-liticd I'orm amon^' the Ivskiino id' lower Kuskoknim and Yukon 
rixers. 

I. .\ repitilioii of the Festival to the Dead is ^'iveii at St .Mi.hael 
tHo days al"ter the close of the liladder feast, and {'tf another just 
lieforc the opening of the lisliiu;; season in spriuK- 

i;. Il.li li'i 1,11' li'ikli /liA-.dreat feast to the Dead. This is the most nota- 
lile of all the festivals, owin;r to the tact that years are s]ient in jirepar- 
in;: for the display with wiiich it is celehratcd. Anion;: the furiratler.s 
It is known as the '•'reii Near least." but in reality there is no deliniic 
niimlier of years liel ween its recurrciu'e. It is held at the time when the 
makers consider that they have accumulated sutlicient material in the 
shape of food, skins of fiir-liearin;; animals, and other olijects of value 
to piopcily lioiior the shades of their ih-ceased relatives for who.se 

lii-nelil till- feast is iielil. 

nii; •iNvniMi IN" i kast 

///(!/' A(((/»i/.-, a ma>k festival, known as the "invitin;; in feast." is 
iiIim-i'mmI aloii;: the lower Yukon and southward to Knskokwim river. 
.Ma^k> in e\ ery variety of shape and form are made tiy the iiieii foi' use in 
it. .-(oiiH' of these are so lar;;c that it liecoiues necessary to han;r them 
I rum the roof of the kashim by a stout cord, and the owner stands behind 
Willi the mask fastened lo his head. wa;:giiit: and swayiii;; it from snle 
to side. The masks are usually carved lo reproent heads of animal.s, 
fiei|iienlly the loteinic animals of the maker, and very ot'teii eNpi'essin;; 
in> tholo;:ii'al fancies, which will be more fully detailed in treatin;; 
of masks. The shamans make masks represeiitiiiK the faces of their 
Hiipernatuial or semihuman familiar.s by whose aid they claim to work 



'MNVITIX(i-IN" AND '■AMilNo'" 



KKSTIV AI.S 



3.') '.I 



their will. Tlic object 
tlie aiiiiiKils (ir hciiiiis 



if tlifsc faci 



^ i'^ to pn.|.ltiMtcaiHl (1„ iK.norto 

, , , , . •''"■'■■■^^'"^^'•l ^Jytl'-'i'i-MiHl thus to hri,,.. about 

p enty ol ,anu, .lum.g tl,. ,.on,in«- year an.l to wanl otV-vil inlU.cMu.os 
The v,nn. or sha.les ot the varion. animals an- invitnl ami are s,,,,- 
posed to be present an,l enjoy the sonos an.l .huuvs. with the loo.l a.1.1 
.Ir.nk otler.nos, .,ven in their honor. The masks are burne.l at the 
conelus.on ot the eerenionies. and shouhl a man sell his mask he n.nst 
replare it with wood in about e.,ual amount lor the saerilh.ial lire which 
takes i)la.ce sul)se(|uent to the ceremony. This 
festival is held usually in January «.r IVbiuaiy 
of each year. Althou-h 1 was not able to 
witness one of these observances, many of 
the masks used in them were obtained. 

THE '-ASKIXC" IKSTIVAI. 




The Askiiij 
-Michael, ta 
of November, when 
water along the coast 
their winter stores. 
Til tii'iik, or the "going 
the hunters and large boys 
the kashim and remove all 



festival, Ai-iin'-y'iik, observed a St 

place each year after the middle 

the lish have left the shallow 

and the people have gatliered 

The lirst night is called 

around." Soon alter dai k 

in the village gatlier in 

their clothing, j^ach 



ture of charcoal and 
stripes and dots; 
hand, and, howl- 
ant noises, all 
to house 
visited, 
and each 



then bhu;ks his face with a mix 
oil and paints his body with 
) lie then takes a wooden dish in his 
ing and making all sorts of discoi 
go out in single tile and pass trom houst 
until every one in the village has been 
The wonieu are all at home on this night, 
who is the head of a fanaly has a huge tub \ 
ries and other food ready. The procession of 
Fiii i;i9— Waiiii "'"' boys tiles into each house, all holding 
usiii ill Askiuy their dishes while they stamii their feet and 
iisiixui (i). iitier grunting sounds. The women at every house 
])lace food in each of the dishes, and when the round is complete( 
all return to the kashim, shouting and stamping. While in the house 
their taces Avv kept turned toward the lloor so that they shall not be 
recognized. Outside the children follow them from house to house, 
shouting and nuiking a great outcry. When they return to the kashim 
the .soot is washed from their faces and bodies with urine and, giving 
some of the food to the old men, all sit down to the feast. Next day a 
wand, called ni-i/iV-i/iih: is made by a man chosen for the i)uri)ose. This 
wand has a slender, rod like handle, with three hanging globes at the 
outer end. figure lo'.l illustrates one of these wands. 



3J;0 THE K8K1MO AUOLT ItKRINd STRAIT .-ra *>s. 18 

III tin- evfiiiiij: of lliis iliiy tin- iiu-ii are Kailuip<l in tin- kasbiiii ami 
tlif woiiHMi ill IliC'ii lioiis*-.. an nil tlii' iirfOMliii;; night. The man \vli<> 
Itri-p.intl till' waiiil taki-H it in liis liaiul ami stamls with it in thi' niiiMIe 
of th>- iiMiiu; any man in the roiiiniiiiiity has tin* ]iri\ile};i- of lelliii;; 

liiiii tin- mi f any aiiicli- In- \vish«'s. somi'tinu-s ;^iving him tin- naini- 

of till- woman from whinn hi> ili'sin-s |<> obtain it. Thi- wanil 1m ariT 
tlii-li n<M-n to till- liiiiisc iif tin- woman iiaim-<l ami istamls befoi')- lit'r, 
HwiiiKJiit; till' han;:iii;: ;:lol>f-i oil tin' waml. at the same time tilliiit; 

her wliat III- has <o for. ami tln-n stainls waitiiif;. The woman thinks 

of soinelliin:,' whirli >ln' ile-iri'S in return anil tells the wanil-lieurer. 
wlierfii|Miti 111' retiirn-i to the ka^him ami. swiiif^iii}; the ;,'lobes iM'fore the 
one who M'lit him, tills wliat is ilesireil in ii'tiini for the object he 
ilem.imleil. In this way every one in the \illa;:i' asks I'or soinethiii;;. 
\Vhi-ii thr messenger has rom|ileti-il his la>k, the men p> to their Inuisi'S 
ami brin;; the artiih's for which they were asked, ami when all h.ive 
retnrmil to the kaxhim a ilam-e is performiil. 

The women Ihi-n rome. brin<.'iii;; with them the thin^^s asked lor, and 
the i'\riiaii);e is made thri)ii;;li the iiiesseii{;er. who must have his face 
blackened and wear a lishskiii coat, or some other jioor dress, haviii;; a 
do;:skin belt with the tail fastened on behind. If any article is desired 
which the person asked <loes not possess, he is bound by cnstoin to 
obtain it as soon as |Missible after the festival and ])resent it to the one 
who « ishi's it. The two exchanpiny presents in this way are considered 
to lioid a certain temporary relationship, termed ilo'-iji'ih. rormerly 
those once made i hi'i/i'il; exclian;,'ed presents each succeediii}; year at 
this festival, but that custom is now less strictly observed. 

At the time of this festival any man had a ri;;;lit to reijuest the 
iiii'sseii;;er to inform the woman he named, if she was nnmarried, that 
he wished to share her bed that ni;;ht. The woman returned answer 
that he must brin^ ii deerskin for the beddiii;;. When all were ;;ath- 
eied in till' kashini he f;ave her the deer.skin, and after the festival was 
emied leinained with her for the iiij;ht. 

After the wand has been used while conveying the messiifjes of the 
dillercnt people, it is hnn^ in a conspicuous jilace in the kashim and kejit 
there until the festival is ended. This instrument is much resjiectcd 
by the community, and it is considered shamet'nl to refuse the requests 
made with it, ami a per.son doiiif; this would be desiiised by every one. 
In .some districts ihi.s t'cstival is observed by askinj; pn-seiits between 
per.sons of the same sex. It exists substantially as described from the 
vicinity of lleiin;: strait to the moiitli of Kuskokwim rivei'. altliou;:li 
each locality varies .sli;;litly tiie details and rites iierformed. 

The custom of the men takiii;; women iluriii;; the ni-^dit of this festi- 
val isob.seiM'd tliiou;,'iiont tiiis district, One variation of the festival 
is for till" nie.ssi'nt;er to lie told secretly the desire of each person, and 
until all meet in the kashim no one knows with whom he is to exclian;.'e. 
On the lower Yukon and in tiie adjacent distiicls to the soiitiiward this 



"ASKiNfi"' AM) IRAIMNG KKsTIVAI.S 



3(il 

is a,..omplish,..l by ...H, p.rs.,,, nuking a s.nall i,„a... of ,l,o ..hi.vt lu- 
jles,r..s a„.l l,a,.g,„^ ,t o„ the nu.senser's wan.l. win..], is ..k..,. into 
the kasluni whero all exanune tlu- iM.aovs. Kacl, tl„.„ takos .1,. i,n.,..e 
of whatever he wishes to supply, and the .nesseuser tells hiu. Irom 
■whom It comes and what is desired in letiirn. 

THE ii;AI)|N(; I'KSTIVAL 

Another eelehration. known as tiie TradinR festival and soniewh-it 
allied to the preceding, is Indd at irre-ular intervals almost everywhere 
throughout the n.-ion. The foUowin- deseription of its ohservanee at 
Andreivsky. on the lower Vnivon. will serv." as an illustration of its 
eharacter. The fur trader wlio made the festival was inslrueted by 
an old Eskimo and observed all the customary eeremonies. 

Early in the winter the trader sent to several villases in the sur- 
rounding- distriet a messenger, who was instrueted to go to two or three 
of the best liunters in each place and tell them that the trader thought 
they had skins of mink, otter, or of other fur-bearing animals, as the 
case might be. The maker of the feast and the two or three men in 
each village to whom he sent his special invitation were known during 
the festival as luis'kiit' or "heads." Each niis'ktil,-' rei)lied to the mes 
senger thirt he thought the trader had i)owder, lead, or whatever 
else he most desired. Then the messenger went into the kashim and 
addressed the young men generally, saying that his niifi'h-id-' thought 
they possessed skins of various kimls. In this way the man went from 
village to village, learning at the same time the date or time in a cer- 
tain moon when all could go to the feast. A message of this kind 
sent to a village is considered as an invitation to the feast to be held 
at the village of the giver. The messenger having ended his errand, 
returned, telling the niis'kul:' when the guests would arrive; also 
what each headman among the invited guests wished from iiim. The 
chief niiu'lcul;' then prepared for his guests, gathering fond in abun- 
dance, together with the various articles desired by the i)eo|)le invited. 
Those who had been invited gathered at a predeternn'ned village and 
in a body approached the place appointed for the festival. 

In the prescut feast, as soon as the guests came in sight a messenger 
went to meet them on the ii-e of the Yukon. He ran out and stopped 
just before the guests, so that they might send any message they wished 
to the feast giver. In this instance an old woman sent word-to a little 
girl in the trader's family that she wished a reindeer skin. When the 
tirst messenger came back, two othei s ran out to meet the guests, cry- 
ing out as they went, "Are we not strong men; Arc we not strong 
men?" Then, as if in reply. "Yes, we are strong: yes. we are strong; 
we do not steal," and much more of the same kind of selfglorilication. 
Kunning up ch)se to the guests, they stopped and stared at them with- 
out speaking, then turned and ran swiftly back. When they returned, 
two others ran out iu the same way. The last four messengers wore 



.U','* THE ESKIMO AlliiL'T ItKKIM; STUAIT (etu.**n.:< 

.ilNiiit tlii-ir lii'aiU tillet'^ miiili' of Kkiii Iroiii the* throiit.s of i-eiii<l)H>r. so 
III rkiiiKf«l tliiit tli<> Ion;; liuirs xtiHul ii|i, looking; like crowiiK. 

Wlieii Iln' ;.'lli'^tH WtTI- riosf (u tin- liollM' of the fiMSt {{iver tlii-y 
)tt(i|>|M-il !iiiil two ilriiiiis wtTf taki'ii out to them liy iiifssi'ii;,'ers. Tlicit, 
«liil«'flH'\illa;,'frK»li<Mf thcli-ast wasjjivi-ii stootlin front of tlioir lioiisi'<« 
liMikJiiK at till- ^{iii-Hl^, the latttT san;; and ilanrcil on the ice for a ft'W 
niiiiiitcs. Aftor tlicy stopiicil the jii-oide of tlii* tnuler's villa^ri" <liin<-ed 
.iiitl "aiic a '.M'li'onii*. Tin* ilunrin^ anil KinKiHi; of the ;;uf8ts was a 
|iropitiatiiry riMi-uiony, kihIi ii8 is custoniary with 8tran;;ers on tirst 
i-iit«Tiiiu i» ka>*hiMi, «hile thi- ilani-i- of the hosts was one of welcome. 
'I'lii'ii th«' ;;nest.-. cnme torwaril, p.issin;; by their hosts withont a word, 
ami went into the katdiim. As soon as they were seated, the host, or 
ihwf iiimk II I;. liroii;;lit in ami ;:avf them the articles re<|(ieHted of the 
mi'Ksen^er when In* went out on the ice to meet them. After this, food 
was distrilinlcd to everyone. In the evenin;; the "heads" t<Kjk into 
till' kashim tin- skins or other articles they had brought. Kacli naitkiik 
niiiNt brin^at least one of the skins of thi> kind named by the :nessen|;;er.''. 
Ill the invitation to the feast or he would be shamed. They usually 
tr> , ill defense of honor, to brin;; as many skins as jto.ssible of each kind 
iei|ncsted. 

While these skins are beiiif; biontrht in the hosts are seated atone 
sitle of the room, beatiii;; drums and sin;;iii(;. As the iiimkiik to whom 
the nicssi'ii;:er went first in tin- villa;;e ;:oes in with liiH furs, the host or 
chief (n/x/.i//.- of the entertainers meets him as liie most important jjiiest 
and puts n]iiiii him a new t'lir coat as a mark of honor. Then as each 
headman ;,'oes in and throws down his skins he exjM-utes a short dance 
in time with tlie drums. ;;iving a pantomime representing .some exploit 
of his father orof liisown, and sin;;ing at the same time in ju-aise of the 
person represented. After this the young men who came mi the gen- 
eral invitation bring in their furs, each having at least one skin of the 
kind desin-d. but as ii is a distinction to bring more, some of them have 
i|Uite a iiiiiiiber: these are thrown in a heap near the lamp at the head 
of the loom. NVheii all of the guests have broiigiit in their skins tliey 
sit about the loom for a time and sing. The host then takes out the 
skins brought bv the other headnicn. lie soon returns. i>ringing to 
one III the headmen the articles rei|Uested oft lie mes.seiiger, these being 
a lair e<|nivaleiit Ibr the furs he had broiiglit to the trader. -Vt the 
same tune the host throws down near the lamp .some articles of value 
ai'd dances liir a short time. lie then goes out and retiirna with 
the articles desired by the second iieadiiian, and so on until all have 
received the things Ihey desired. My this time the heap of articles 
near the lamp liaN been augmented by the host on each return to the 
ka^him until there is an oi|uivii'"nt for the pile of furs brought by the 
\oiiii;; men. when it is distributed among tliem. Then the host enter- 
tains the quests l»y songs and dances and the festival is ended by the 
ili'>lribiitioii III l4Hid. 



NKL«,N] ti;al.in(; fkstival— M,,i!TrARv FKAsTs 36;5 

TlH, skins hn.„j;ht by Mh> y,,,,,,.- nuM, in tl.is instance w.mo tak.n l.v 
the trader, l.ut wlieu tl,e Kskim,. .dvc the festival tlieseaie .listrih„i,.il 
anion- the youn- men ..f the villa-e wlu, .•..ntrihuf to il„. .r,.„or,l 
sni)])ly (ifartieles to be distribnted anioni; tlie <ruests. 

In tlie middle of February, l.SSO. while'af tliHieadOf N„rt,.n <nnu<\ 
a party ..f Malemut were met on tiieii- way to a tradin- festival of this 
kind at Kualaklit. Their sled-es were laden with reindeer skins 1 
afterward learned that they took part in the festival, bnt bein-dissatis. 
tied with the presents i;iven in retnrn for tluMr skins, they took them 
back and returned home. 

Ill a rude .sketch drawn for me by an Kskimo from the Kaviak pen- 
insula, the figures of a jiarty of men from (^ape l>riiiee of Wales are 
portrayed, showinji- them on their way to a, festival of this kind and 
beiug met by the villagers of the phu-e to which they are goini;. 

KEASTS To ■riir; head 

:Moin'i Ai;\ i i;asis in i,k,\i'i!ai. 

Every year the Ihl'-ii-j/'i' at St Jlieliael is held during the latter part 
of November or early in December. It is repeated two <lays atter the 
Bladder feast of autumn and just before the begiuiiing of the salmon 
fishing ill spring. It is given for the sole puriiose of making otVerings 
of food, water, and clothing to the shades of those n^'cntly deceased, 
and of otferings to the dead who have not yet been honored by one 
of the great festivals. The makers of this feast are the nearest rela- 
tives of those who have died during the prei^eding ,yeai', Joined by all 
others of the village who have not given a great feast to their dead. 

The day before the festival, among the hiskimo of St ]\Ii(-hael and on 
the lower Yukon, the nearest male relative goes to the grave of tlui. 
deceased and iihints before it, if it be tlnitof a man, a, newly made stake 
upon which is i)laced a small model of a seal spear, and if of a woman, 
a wooden dish. Sometimes the sjiear model is replaced by the model of 
a kaiak paddle or'an umiak oar. Upon these implements are markeil 
the totems of the dead. At times, Imwever, the totem of the deceased 
is indicated by a simple wooden image of the totem animal, which is 
placed on top of the stake. This is the notitication which brings the 
shade from the hind of the dead to the grave, where it waits, ready to 
be called into the ka.shim by the songs of invitation during the festival. 

At the lhl'-u-(f)' held the year iireceding a great festival to the dead, 
those making the festival plant other stakes of invitation bearing the 
.same symbols beibre the graves of those to be honored, and by these 
gravesare sung songs of invitation to the shades, informing them of 
the approaching festival. It is said thatwli.'n one of these festivals 
begins with its opening song of invitation, the shades are in their 
graves and come thence to the kasliim, where they assemble in the lire 
pit, under the tloor. At the proper time they asceml from their place 



;tt;4 TIIK EHKIJJO AHOIT BKKINC STKAIT Iciu.a-vs. 18 

lii-iicatli till- tl«M)r. eiitt-riiit' ami |m>k8ik.sjii{: tln« hmliofl ol" tlieir name- 
hski-i* III tin- ktiMhiiii, ami thus oMaitiiiiK for tlii'His»'lv«'s the olVfriiijjs 
of r»n«l. ilriiik, or chit hint* whirh arc made t<i these iiaiiiesakes lor tlie 
Im iiolli «>f the ileieaM?<l. It ix liy iiieaiis of siieh olVeriiifj.s that the 
mIiuiIi- i« l>elieve«l Jo ohtaiii tlie Mii|i|>lies m-eensary fur its wants in the 
laii<l of the ileaiil. 

When llie otlerin;;s have heeii luaile and the song's eoneliided, the 
shades are sent haek to their aliidinj; jiiaee by stain|iin^' iii>on the 
Ihjor. Oil the day of the feast no one is permitted to do any work 
alioiit tlie village, and all work with sharp ed;.'ed or pointed tools is 
prohiliiled for fear that -oiiie shade may l>e about, and. beiiiii; iii.iiire<l. 
biroiiie anjfry and do harm to flie people. All are supposed to take 
part in this festival whose nearest relative.s have died, and in propor- 
tion to the eare ami ;,'enerosily exereiwd on these oi-easions the shade 
is made happy and comfortable. 

Tliesr Mskimo fear to die iiiile>s they liave someone to make ofler- 
iiiK-* to their memory, and ehildless persons ;:eiierally ado|)t a eliiid so 
that their shade may not be forgotten at the fe.stivals, as people who 
lia\ e no one to make onerin;,'8 lor them are sujiixised to sulVer great 
destitution in the other world, i'or this reason it is regarded as the 
sevenst punishment possible for a shade to have these rites neglected 
by its relatives. When a person has been very much dislikeil, his shade 
is sometimes purposely ignoied. 

At St .Micliael and the lower Yukon, when this feast is held, each of 
those who have dead friends to honor takes an oil Iam|i into the kashiin 
at midday, where the lamps are lighted and arranged around the room 
a yanl or two from the wall on supports about two feet high. If the 
shade of a man is to be honored a lamp is iilace<l in front of the place 
he formerly occupied in the room. These lanijis are kept burning until 
the festival is ended, and in this way the shades are supiiosi-d to be 
li;:hted on their way back to the earth and to receive in the land of the 
dead the li;,'ht which they used in their houses. After this an old man 
takes a drum, and sitting in front of the main lamp^in the middle of 
the loom, beats it ill slow, regularlime. while singing the invitation to 
the shades. accoiiii>anied by all the villagers. This is quite a long song, 
of whi<-h the lollowing few words are given: 

Tii-ku -miil-u-ii'i ■•>. liii -Jliii-il: j-/(i -ai-ya' mii-kltig'-d-muk 
Kiail i>ii> •! roiiii' livn' ^ (Churili» ni'iUkinn (fur a) 

lAniU/i -kuH-MiH -kin. j-ln -<ii-iju'. Tai-kin-a-ka; tun-lii -miik 

'• Inil j.iu virlll ;:it. (I'liunin.) Chuik lira-, "lu; t^'lnilwr nlilu/i 

rhii-ii'okh -kun-iim -kin. A-la -oi-i/a', Tai -kin-a'-ka'. 
r..r» IH-.1 Villi mil i;..t irlionmi Coiui' hrnr.ilo. 

When this is completed the jiersons who are making the feast rise, 
and going to the food they have prepared and placed at the doorway, 
take a small portion from every dish and east it down on the lloor as 
an oll'eriiig; then each takes a ladle of water and ]>ours a little on the 
tliMir so that It iiin> through the cracks. In this way they believe that 



MoiniAKv i-i;ast; 



a Co 



the spiritual osseiu-e of tlu. entile, luantily of rn,„l and wMtcr tm,,, wIm.I, 
the small portions are oirered o„,.s to the slia.lr. 'lliis ..ssence ..f tl„. 
offeriii-s i.s believe,! to be tiausportetl iMysteri,),.slv t.. the ahodrs of 
the shades ami tliiis supply their wants until the' tin.,, of the next 
festival. After these onerinjjs hav,. been nnule the festival maker ,lis- 
tribiites the food that is left among the i)eople i)r,'sent and all eat 
heartily. Then, with s,)iios and dam-es. the feast is emle,l an.l the 
shades are dismissed. 

ORE.Vl- KKasT T(i TMK liEAIl 

The great feast to the dead (the ten-year Enrn.ila of the fur trailer) 
is the J Ui'-tu-l-n'-ti'iM-l id- of the Unalit at St Michael an,l the Uhlt'-lir 
or T-U-(j'"i of the Eskimo at Ikogmut on the lower Yukon. The latter 
term means -'throwing- away," from the eiist<mi of the feast makers 
giving away everything during the festival. The nearest relative of 
a deceased Eskimo in this region must honor the shadeof the departed 
with presents ,)f food, ,lrink, and clothing, through the dead i)er.soii's 
namesake at the tirst festival iu honor of the shades foUowing Ins 
death; also by small food ,)fterings at each ,)f the following aiumal 
observanees of this festival until he takes part in the great feast (o 
the dead. The chief mourner is the nearest blood relative, either the 
father, son, brother, or other near relation. The chief mourner, after 
the expiration of one or two years, commences to save up valual)le 
articles, such as skins of various kinds, clothing, and other things 
prized by these people; thus he or she saves for four. si.\, or even more 
years until the store of goods has grown to a large amount of i)ropei ty, 
as these jieople regard it, often worth hundreds of dollars. 

At the same time others in the village are doing the same, until 
tiually a number of persons conclude that they have enough to make 
one of these great festivals, when they agree on a time for its observ- 
ance on some day during a certain moon in the ensuing year. Then, at 
the holding of the next minor feast to the dead, each relative plants his 
invitation stake before the grave of the one he wishes to honor. The 
invitation stake consists of a slender wo,)ilen rod, four to six feet high, 
commonly having rings of red paint about its freshly cut surtai'c, an,l 
topped by a small, painted, wooden image of the totemic animal of the 
deceased; this stake is supjto.sed to notify the shade of the ,lea(l of the 
approaching festival. To still farther notify the sha,les, a songof invi- 
tation is sung at the minor festival to the dead given the year before 
the great feast, ami as the sha,les are believed to be present at th,'so 
festivals, this song is supposcl to be heard by them. 

With the observance of this great festival a [.erson is supp,.s,.,l to 
have done his entire duty to the .shades of his dea,l, and then,-et,>rtli 
may abstain from making any further fea-sts in their honor without 
being ashamed before his fellow villagers However, should h- los,- 
another very near relation he would he expected to repeat the usual 



3i;. 



TIIH KKKIMm AIhK I liKKING >TKAIT 



ril.-«. uiiU'.HH iliere shoiilil Im- Horiifoni- to tak.- his iiliu«>. The sbudt- is 
MilijHHU'tl til bi- Mip|»l"»-»l wi'l' "iinicit-nl fiMxl ami iirojierty at this ft-ast 
111 I'lialili- it to i-xisi ihfiMi-lorlh Mithoiii icai III" want. 

Ill .laiaiary. l"*--^". I <haiifi-<l to Itr at thf siiiall village of iCa/biiiKky, 
• III lh«' liMMT Yukon, whtii tin- l«">tival to tin- lU-ail was ht-ld ami the vil 
lajjiis won- invitiil lo atteml tin- ;;rfat ^l•a^t to be ^'ivi-n tht-m the ne\t 
ViMi. ThiM |iit'hniiiiar\ li-a.st «aN eiitirely in thi- hunils of the woiiiimi. 
whti «li->trilint«'«l fooil ami |iri'.scnt.s amoii;: the pe-iple uiid Siutyi the 
Hoii^' of iiivilatioii (o ihf .shades t<> letiini afjaiii next yiar. At the 
haim- time a .-"low dame was cxeintA-d. 

I was intormid tliat the ;,'reat festival to which the shades wereiiiTited 
would lir n'^''" entirely by men. I'eo|ile from surroiindiii); villa;.'es. 
Mimetimes III a einilit of maily I'lMi miles, are invited liy mettsengers to 

take jtait as •:uests in this feast. 
'I'he feast makers strive to make 
as niueh show as possible and dis- 
tribute j;reat ipiantities of food 
ainon(X the piiests. 

The follow ill-; is an aeeoiint of 
one of these festivals witnessed 
at Ka/binsky in .January. IS-Sl. 
which will }.dvi' a ;;eneral idea of 
their ;:o<id character. It is from 
notes made at the time the I'esti- 
val was ill jirofrress. 

People came to this feast from 
all the neighboring; villages and 
even from Kuskokwim river. until 
the village was lilled to overllow- 
ing. On the evening of the day 
Oil which the I'estival began, the 
kashini was jjacked with men. 
women, and children. A place was given me on a bench in a corner 
«»l the room and this was reserveil during the eiilire time of the festival. 

I'irKl I rrnin't 

.\t the beginning iif the festival the ]ieoplc were airanged in the 
kasliim as shown in the accompanying figure lid. 

Six men with drums sat in the rear end of the kashiin. fai'ing the 
docir. .Along each side, as shown in the diagram, sat a mwof men who 
did the singing The drninmers and singers nil sat on long, rude 
bciirlii's. The >pace I'loiii the driiiiiinei s to the door was nmicciipied, 
liiit the back and sides ol'the roniii were (lacked with peojile. ."several 
f-iiiigs wi'ie <iing, all espressing welcome to the expected guests. Pur- 
iiig one of these a man who liad come with other gin-sts from Kiisko- 
kv ini liver siidib-nly appean-d in the door. and. raising his vt)ico over 
the dm III the drums and singiii;:. shouted : "< >li. oh. oh, oh, oh ! I.nok 







3 




6 6 


1 
o 


1 




1 1 

o o 


o 






o 


' 






o , 


J o 
o 




s 





o 






o 



,.1..1I.V1«-. 1.. 


In™. 1. illlr 


•■ nil" •!"• ■' 


.r «l.l. h ll 


■li-i: •"■> 





^■^'-"^1 gi;kat fkast to tiik lkau lUu 

at in... What a.v yen savin- of lis KnskoUwim |,..,.,)1.. .' Si-,. l„.n.wl,'it 
xve l.rin- y,.n r„r inus.Mits.- H,. tlici tliivvv ,l„wi, so.m- sUiiis 1,.. 1,1,1 
in Ins liamls and went .ml. l„it ivliiinc<l iinni..(liat.'lv. (liajijjinjj i„ s.-y. 
eial large deeiskiiis. wlii.^ii were pla.-...l in tlic sain.' pilc.Tii.I was loj. 
lowed liy lour cmniianions. wlio caiiic iVon, n,,. saiiif phi-e, ea.-li of 
whom add-.'d to tlie pile. My inti'rijrctcr told me tiiat tliis' was tl.r 
customary olVeriiiy; oC jiiiests who (•anic troiii a distanc.-. 

I then sent him out to my sledge to ohtaiii some art icles with which 
tomakeoiirotlcring in 1 he same manner, so as to observe the eiislomot 
imipitiatory stilts. He returned witli some leaf tohaceo, wliich he 
broujiht ill whih' tiie sinuiiiK still cmtinned. cryiiii;- out. as Imil tlic 
others, "Oh. oii. oh. oli. oh! See here What are \oii sayin- ;ih,,iii 
US St Miehael jieopler" Throwing the tohaeco on the common lieap, 
he went out and returned with one end of a roll of calico in Ids liaiids, 
drawing the remaiuder through the entrance hole witii great delihera- 
ticm, to make it appear as long as possible. An old man of the village 
arose to distribute these olferings, and with this the day's entertainment 
was closed. Thisis called the guests" i]iiy, or yiitji'iLli'-titt. The giiesis 
from closely neighboring villages ai-e not expected to make propitia- 
tory presents at these festixals. as tiiey reciprocate liy giving feasts 
themselves, but those from afar are looked upon witii disfavor unless 
they make the customary gifts. Should the guest wish to take jiait in 
any of the dances, it is almost imperative that he shoiihl have made 
such presents on his arrival. The guests at these festivals arc fur- 
nished with lood both for fliemselves and their dogs during tlie time of 
their attiMidancc. 

S.roiid ,1(111 

The l^ashiiii was lillcd with pcopk' in the evening, as it was thiMlay 
before. Tlie dnimmers and singers weie arranged in thesame position, 
and several songs were sung in time to the drums, one of wliicli, 
intended to descrilie the dangers and difficulties of a Journey, is trans- 
lated as follows: 

\Vi- will siiifi a .siiiin. 

We will fjo ilowii tlic cuiTeiit. 

The waves will lis,- 

The waves will l;.ll. 

Tl.,' .l,.,ys will,m-,,wl ai lis. 

After .several songs had been sung, one of the men making the feast 
came in suddenly with his face bent toward the tloor and made a feint as 
if intending to dance: tlien wheeled about abriqitly and went out Mis 
idace was taken at once by five men and live women, also feast givers, 
dressed in tine new clothing. Some ol' the women wore men's clothes 
and some women's garments, thus indicating the sex of the iierson for 
whom they were making the feast. After a short dance these live went 
out and were replaced by others until all the feast givers had danc.-d. 
This completed the second .lay's perf.Miiiaiice. in this dance some .)t 
the men wore w.dlskin tillcts and some of the w.,m.Mi lillcis ma.le Irom 



aiiH TIIK ESKIMO AI'.olT IIKUINO STKAIT [kiilasn. :« 

Mvii rriiiiiH' ^kiin«, tlic liemls of iIk- fiiiiiius Immii^ joiin-il tnvr tlie iiiid- 
illi-ol' till- ri>ri-lic:iil iiii<l the skins drawn bai-k oil each siili-, and lian^int; 
over the KideHof the fate. These were said to Im- tolciiiie insi{;nia. 



Alioiit I oehtek ill the iiioi'iiiii;: all tlie ;;iie.st.N were aroii>ed and railed 
iniij till' kaslinn, where a t'lir trader and inyself, liavini; come tVoin 
the most remote roiintrv, were ;;iveii tlie jilac-es of honor on the hem-h 
at the bark td' the iiniiii, to the left of the entrance. Next to us were 
the n"t"''"* f'""in Kiiskokwiin river, who canio from the next farthest 
place, the fuests Lieiiij,' jiUu-ed in jirecedence accordinj; to the distance 
from which they had come. The people were all seated in this way 
under the direction of the old headman of the village, whi) sits at the 
lelt of the druminer-> durin;; the dances. 

U hen the i;uests were all seated the villa};ers came in and tilled the 
vacant places. The seats of the trnests thus allotted are reserved 
thioii;:hont the festival, and if a villager hnpi>ens to be seated in one 
of tlicin when the ;,'nest enters, he at once vacates it in favor of the 
ori;;inal occupant; not to do so would be considered {jross rudeness 
and wiiiild call forth a reprimand from the old men. 

Tlie kasliini at this place had two tiers of sleeping benches around its 
sides, and these were both fully occuiiied by the guests. The villa;;er8 
gaihi-red in a compact nia>s between the vacant space in the inidille of 
the room and the wall, but leaving a passageway along the sides and 
liack of the room, in which were ranged, at regular intervals, twelve 
clay lamps, supported mi wooden jiosts or w"ickerto|) holders about ;{0 
inches high. 

I!a<-li of these lamps was tilled with seal oil and kejit burning day 
and night during the festival. These lights are said to be made to 

burn ( stantly. so that the roa<l back and forth from the land of the 

dead may be lighte<l and the shades to be honored may have no diHi- 
iiiily in <'"iniiig to the feast. If one of the feast makers fails to put up 
a lamp in the kashiiii and kec]> it lighted, the sluule he or she wishes 
to honor Would be unable to lind its way and would thus ini.s.s the feast. 

When the people, nuniberiiig about two hundred, were seated, an ohl 
III. in tiMik a large drum, about '■'<>, feet in diameter, and sat on a stixd in 
the middle of the lloor just in front of the customary lamp which burns 
at the bai-k of the rooiii. Then the lieadman of the village, who had 
attended to the seating of the guests, sat on a small stool at the right 
of the dinmmcr. and on the left sat the headman's brother on a similar 
stool. These acted as direi-tois of the ceremonies and served also the 
purpose of pronipting the ilrnmmer during the .songs. The arrange- 
nient of the kashim was the same as on the first evening. 

The feast givers now tiled in, each carrying a woven grass bag con- 
laiiiiiig a tine suit of clothing worn during the daiu-e of the preeetling 
evening. .\i this time each was dressed in his or her )>oorest ami old- 
est suit ul cloihin;;, tied about the waist by a cord of plaited grass. 



"■^'-^o^l GREAT FEAST TO THE DEAD 



3(;9 



As tliey came in, tliey st()ci)e(l over miuI crei.l sottlv and l.un.l.lv to 
their places in tlie ..,,eu space aiound the sides (.fth."'uasl,im as tliou-h 
trying to avoid heing seen. The wearing ..f old elothing and their 
coming into the room in this way was to express humility and to sl,ow 
how little they value their olferings. It is said that if' one did n,.t 
enter in this manner, but should hold up his head and alterward not 
be able to give as much as some of the others, he would be ashamed 
and become the subject ol' ridicule; each feast maker is emulous to give 
more than his fellows, and as no one knows how much the others have 
to give, they come humbly so as not to assume any credit they may 
subsequently lose. During all the rites of this festival, even in" danc- 
ing, they kei)t their faces cast to the tloor to express their humility. 
From this time forth throughout the festival, the feast makers wore 
the tilthiest and most miserable clothing lliey had, putting on the line 
garments in the grass bags only while i)erf()rming certain dances. The 
feast givers are expected to enter the kashim in the humble manner 
described only when rites are being i>erformed; at other times they 
come in walking erect and mo\ing briskly. 

It is customary for the guests and others aside from the givers of the 
feast to enter and leave the room slowly and with as little noise as 
possible, so as not to attract atteutiou, thus showing their resi)ect for 
the feast givers. 

Having ranged themselves around the two sides and back of the 
room, the feast givers took out the suits of new clothing from the grass 
bags and exchanged them for their old garments. The wolfskin and 
ermine fillets, already described, were put on. and the women held in 
each hand a wand about two feet in length. These were slender stick.s, 
having the (piill feathers of the golden eagle bound along their length, 
and pr(jje(ding from their tips were three bare vanes of large featliers, 
each tipped with a tuft of downy plumes. 

The drummers began to beat in measured time and sang the song of 
invitation to the shades as if coming from the mourners. The song, 
translated, is as follows, each person being supposed to invoke the rela 
tion he or she was honoring: 



Clinic, my lirolhur, 
tvi'tiirii to us ;i,n;iiii ; 
We Wiiit fdi- yi>ii ; 
Cdiiie, liinther, .■"in,-. 

iClioru.i) 
Our iiiDtluT, conic Ijack tc 
Ketnin ouce irmre. 

(t7,„n(.M 
Krturn, our l;illiui-; 
\V(3 wait lor you; 
Conn- iM.k tons, 
Anil \vc. will) !ire lonely, 
Will give you food— etc. 
IS ETII -i 



:;7i) TJIK KsKIMo AIIOIT IIKICING STRAIT Ilth ixs ik 

. i.iitiiiiHMl ill iiiiMiriirul luiii'H lor some time. When it 
, .;. .; .1 ;ii.iii Mil iiiif -.iile III the room maiie ii wliiiiiiij; ery. wliit-h \v:i8 
.iiiHMi'ic'l l>y aiioilier I'lMKt ;{1vfr iVoiii the o|i|M>site nide: at tliJK Ki^^inil 
all i.t iliciii ariKc, tin- iiifii raii(;in;; tln'iiisi-hcs aloiijj tlio «iile« of tin- 
ro'iiii uliili' tlic woiiifii lili-il liat-k and hiooiI heliiml tlie dnimiiii-rs. all 
I.H-iii;: l.iwaid till- center. The wiiiiieii wore lilleln of \ arioiis kinds ami 
Id M a leadiir waiid ii|iri;.')it in each hand. Then the son;; of invitation 
to the rthadc.H wa.H re|ieated li.v liotli feast makers and ilnimmerH. 

.'^iiddcnly the time of tiie drum lieats was chunked from slow to fast, 
and two Women just liciiind the dnimmers stepped forward dose to them 
ami lie^aii a pantoiniiiie ilaiice in imitation of walkiuj;: the hands were 
used for these millions and moved alternately liaek and forth, the wands 
heiii;; held in-arly upri;:ht and ]iarallel; at the same time they kept up 
SI sli;,dit swaying' niofioii of the Imdy, lieiidin;; the knees sli^rhtly in time 
to the drums. The other women feast -jtivers stood in their places, and 
some of them went tliroii^li the same dance, while others performed 
various other movements, anion;; which was a ]iaiitomime of tyiii;; tip 
packa;;i's and jiackin;; away articles of various kinds liy imttiii;; them 
in a ]iile, then eiiciiclin;; them with a <ord and tying it, shown by iiiovin;; 
the ri;;ht hand from ri;;ht to left over the left arm. all done in perfect 
time to the music. 

Tlu'ii two men siepprd furwanl, one on each side, one of whom hccan 
to imitate the motion of a mairs feet walking on snowshoes l»y the 
oiitstreli lied hands held palm downward and moved alternately back 
and forth, at the same time stamping heavily with his right foot; the 
other imitated a bear walking and stopping every now and then, as 
though raising itself up on its hind feet ami staring about. Alter 
standing in this way for a few moments with bis arms bowed in front 
of him in an absurdly realistic jiosition, he would again begin stamp- 
ing heavily on the lloor, giving his body a rolling motion, while he 
moved his liiuids and arms in imitation of a bear's gait. This was 
done remarkably well, and great laughter was created, this being the 
object of the dainer. 

<>tlici men among the feast givers then took part in the dance, each 
pantomiming; >ume occupation of daily life. The most striking of these 
was an imitaiinn by one of traveling a long distance on snowshoes and 
winding in and out among the hills. The hands of the performer were 
ill front of him, palms downward, and he moved back and forth with a 
walking motion, inclining oblii|iiely one way and the other to indicate 
the slopes of the hills. Then he stopped and appeareil to si'i/e and 
stiik(< something. 1 could not understand this, but the I'.skimo next 
to me said the man was killing an otter in the snow, .\nother man 
imitated making a hole in the ice with his ice chisel, another )iadilling 
a kaiak.aml so various other |iantomimes were executed, every motion 
being made in time to the drum. 

After a time the dniMimers ceased and rapped sharply on their stiMils 



nelson! OPV A'V ^-<^> ■ or„ „,„ 

J V.KKAI >l:,ASr TO TlIK hKAD sjyi 

with the .Irnm ha,ulles. The ,1.,k..,s stupp..,! and s.a.upoa ,„i..ldv on 
the HooI^ hr.t w, h one foot, then with th.. .„ 1...,. K;u-k !., ,|, .„. .1 
h.« hands over his head and dreu then, down over tin- h.,dv as 
w,p>„8- son.eth.no. „,,„, it. When their hands reached th,.ir hip. thev 
be,au sh.ppn,,- their thighs .p.icklv and sat down slowlv on the li-.o,' 
Then the men w,th bent bodies, liled slowly ha.k to , heir ori..ina 
places and sat down by their eon.panion.s. After sitting ouietlv'lor a 
hjng tune the dancers went home to reph.ee with their old suit, the 
new dothin- they had worn daring the dance. I was told tb-.t the 
wiping motion, followd by the stamping and the slapping on the 
thighs, indicated that the feast makers thus east off all uneleanness 
that might be oifensive to the sliades, and thus render their <.irerin..s 
acceptable. '^ 

In a short time the namesakes of the dead gathered in the place 
made for them in the center of the room and sat down. The least 
givers then came in. each bearing <.ne or more new wooden buckets 
containing frozen fish. They went lir.st to the laini)s burning for the 
shades and dropped on the Hoor by them fragments of the lish as food 
offerings. Tlien a bucket of water was given to each of tlie namesakes, 
and they dipped their hands twice into it and sprinkU-d it on the tloor! 
thus making a libation to the shades to accompany the food. Alter 
this each feast maker gave the remainder of the lish to the namesakeof 
his dead. After the namesakes had all eaten, the empty dishes were 
removed. The feast givers then brought in between ;i,(lO(l and 4.(i(io 
pounds of frozen tish, consisting mainly of loach, whitelish. biackfisli, 
and pickerel, which were placed by the door in individual piles. This 
fish was in woven-grass bags and frozen solid, having been kej.t thus 
since autumn. Each feast giver sat down silently beside his or her 
pile, and in a few moments a man came in and started to cross the 
room to his i)lace, when an old man called out some epithet, to which 
he replied in seeming anger. The lirst speaker answered, and the two 
kept up a rapid and ai.parently angry series of retorts for several 
minutes. 

This byplay, which had been ju'carrauged in order to i>ut the guests 
in good luimor, caused great laughter. When it was liiiished the feast 
givers rose and, with wooden mauls and reindeer-horn wedges, sepa- 
rated the masses of frozen tish into fragments, which were distributed 
among the people, the guests from the greatest distance recei\ing the 
most. The fur trader and myself received about -.50 pounds each. 



Very early in the morning the feast makers came into the kasiiim and 
retilled their lamps with seal oil, and then brought in food consisting 
of whitetish oil, dried salmon, and seal blubber. After they had made 
their customary ottering of small fragments before each <if the lamjis 
burning for the dead, the Ibod was distributed amoug the people, and 



372 TUK KSKIMU All'UT KERING STKAIT [kthasxH 

t'vcryoiif bmkf lii.s fant. After flu* food was d imposed of, soiigK of iuvi- 
lutioii wcra Hiiii^ to till' dead aiitl a dariet- was pcrfoniied rxactly like 
dial <if till' pn-vioiis da> . WluMi tliis was eiidfil, tlif fca.sl ;;i\ers 
liioiil^ht ill aliiMit a ton of lint* dried saliiion, and i-acli sat down Ix-liind 
Ills or lii«r pile. Tlieli a man caiiii' in and tlic same style of wortl play 
was eii>,'a;:ed in as on the ilay hel'ore, after wliieli tlie feast yivers dis- 
tiilmted tlieir salmon, tlie tra<lvr and mysi'lf gettinj; about -Oil piuinds 
eai'li. This was Inllowed liy an interval of alxint an hour, when the 
dani-e was repeat4-d. l''ollowiiig this more salmon and a i|uantity 
of i-iaiilieiries wviv <listril>nted: then another interval ensued, lastiii;; 
until just Itei'oru ilark, and the daiieo givc-n in the morning was again 
r<'|s-ati'd, lint with a dilfereiit ending. 

As the daiit-e coiii-luded the reiitral druiiimer. an old man, arose, and, 
holding the drniii ami stick overhead, railed out, *' Turn now as light of 
da\ goes," atid. with a loud, hissing noise, he turned slowly a ipiarterof 
a eirele w ith the sun, from left to right, and stopped; after a short pause 
he turned another ijuarler of a circle and sto|>ped again, and so on 
until the circle was completed. At tiie same time all the dancers turned, 
stopped, and started again with the drtiiunier, making the same hissing 
noise; when the circle was completed the dancers stamped their feet 
and slapped tiieir thighs to make themselves clean, and all went out 
side. Altoiit half of the dancers then sto<»d in front of the kasliim and 
began to dance, while most of the others went among the graves, which 
were just behind the liiiililing, and danced before the gr:ive b<(xes of 
those in whose honor the least was given. At the same time four men 
who had lost relatives by drowning went to the ice <»f the Yukon, 
where they danced. The old drummer stood on the top of the kasliim 
beating hisdiiini for those dancing before the door; the dancers among 
the graves had time beaten for them by an ohl man striking the end of 
a log projccling from the wall of a house near by. and those who went 
to the river danced tu time beaten on a piece of wood carried by one of 
the old men. 

The reason givi-n Ibr the dance by the graves was that the shades of 
the dead were believed to have returned from their place of abode in 
the other wmld in response to the in vitatioiis and to be occupying their 
grave boxes when not in the kasliim. and by the dance the shades were 
shown that their relatives were taking jiart in the festival. At the 
i-loseof this dance tlie children of the village, to the number of seventy 
or eighty, gatheieil in the kasliim, oii-iipying the center of the room in 
a s(|uare body, ea<'h child having a small wooden dish and a grass bag 
in its hands, and shoutin;; in deat'eiiiiig chorus, '> II'i-A/m.''' ime. tixi) 

'• n'l/i/H.'" •• »»■./</.(.'•• 

The Women had come in, meanwhile, bringing bags of berries, which 
they put by haiidfiils into the disiies of the children, who inimedialely 
emptied the dishes into the bags anil held them out again, crying for 



""-^^""l fiREAT FEAST To TIIH DKAD 373 

more. This laste.l al...„t l.alf ai, l,our, and was greatly e„iovo.l by tl>o 
cliildien, each trying;- to |,n.,.ure num. than the next. Nvhik"" the s„ee- 
tator.s apijeared to be nnieh amused. 

Meanwhile berries and fisl, w.mv liand.-d about anions Mie adults who 
sat packed around the sides of the room. Then the women feast fivers 
made presents of straw pads f(,r skin boots and fiiu'ly combed '■ra'^s f„r 
towels, the trader and myself setting our jiortion. The feast fivers 
then made an ottering of water before eacli of the lami)s. by jiouriiis 
a little on the lloor, after whicli they ^ave the remainder u> the 
namesakes. 

Later the two tiers of benches ahmg the sides of the room were 
crowded with men, and in the middle of the lloor was a compact nuiss of 
women and children, leaving a narrow passage arourul tlie sides next to 
the wall, so that the feast givers could move about the lamps. 

In a short time they came in and took theii- usual i)laces by the 
lamps. The women among them had brought a large number of small 
articles, such as spruce gum, wooden snow kiuves for cliihlren, wooden 
ladles, dishes, sju-iice rootused for lashing, willow splints for tish traps, 
reindeer sinew thread, and various other things. Wlien all were in 
the room and seated the husband or nearest male relation of each of 
tlie women feast givers arose and held up the articles one after another, 
making depreciative remarks about them, as if they had been obtained 
so easily that they were of trilling value. One of the mcTi hehl up 
some reindeer sinew, saying, "Look at this. What is it' I don't 
know. 1 was sitting in the snow last spring and it fell before me from 
the sky."' Another said, holding up .another article, '• Look at this, it 
was given me by Charlie" (the fur trader who was witli mi^ at the fes- 
tival). Some of these remarks were (juite amusing, causing everyone 
to laugh heartily, and the whole performance was very much enjoyed. 

When the men had linished this preliminary announcement the women 
arose and each one called out the names of those to whom she wislied to 
make presents, and wlien the latter answered the articles were handed 
or tossed to them. As there were a dozen or more persons (tailing out 
and replying at the same time, the uproar was very great. Instead of 
calling the person's real name in every case, some of the women gave 
them ajit nicknames. My presence in the village to obtain ethno- 
logical specimens had excited great curiosity, and one woman caused 
shouts of laughter by crying out. "Where is the buyer of good-for- 
nothing things?'' — and then handed me some presents. 

For the fust time during any part of the ceremony the feast givers 
stood erect while distributing thes(^ presents. When nearly all of 
the arti(des had been distributed, a small stick, attached lo the <'nd 
of a line, was dropped down through the smoke hole in the roof. One r)f 
the women feast givers who was sitting below caught hold of it and 
began to draw in the line. As she did this she sang a slow measured 



;i74 TIIK KsKIM'» AIIOLT IIKKINO 8TKAIT ;mi *«. u 

\<\\iti time III til*' iiiiitioiiH hIii' iiiitde in liiuiling tin* <-ortl. It 

V,.,. >.!> iiioiirnrul. ami iii'(,'lit liiiv.- i" •■'■ -"ii Id liyinn in a minor 

ki-y. It run um lollnws: 

nil, 111) lirolhiT, i-uiiii l>:iik Ii> iii<', 

Ii yii-yii-yaf. 
luiiio liiik, my lirothtT, I am louoly, 

.<i-3f>l v<i-yiii. 
My linitlier comr liitck an<l wv 

Will ^Imi Villi n niiiull |irrs<-iit, 
.((•yii-j/il-voi-yxr-yai, i-tr. 

Aloiijj tln> lint- was fastoniMl a niimher <if articles. Each of tlio 
wiimvti liatl a siiiii^'. wliitli .slic drew ijiiwn in tlio samu manner, 8in;:iiiK 
a himdar Minjj, a.skin^ the rt'tiirn oi" those lor whom she mourneil, while 
the a-<si-ndd<-d |ii'ii|ilf joined in at intervals wailing a motiriifnl eliorns. 

The articles fastened to thesi- lines consisted of ;frass mats, unitw 
baskets or lia;,'s,j;rass socks, lishskin lia^^s. calico, white drilling, toliueeo 
bail's. wimmIcii dishes, ladles, lishskin hoots, workbags. loon-skiu bathing 
caps, and ttwd bags. Ka<-li line had many of thene articles on it, imc 
kind always |ire<liimiiialing. and In the end was liistene<l one nr more 
small wiMidcii models of some implement such as small oars, jtaddles, 
or other thiii;:s symbolical of the oeenpation of the relative for wliuui 
she was inunrning. and from them the sex of the deceased could be 
known. .Vs these synd)ols appeareil the women to whom they belonged 
would gra>p them. and. holding them out at arms' length above their 
heads, wiinhl cry. '-.^ee! I have searched and this is what 1 have 
found." meaning that Ihey had looked for their lost ones and had found 
only a i<>y or implement which they had used. 

When llie lasl of the line was drawn in. each song came to a clo.se, 
and the ariii-les were untied and pla<-e<l in a pile before the owner. 
When all were ready, they arose and mailc excuses for tiro small num- 
ber of thinys they had been able to gather for gifts. One woman saiil, 
"I am poor and have im husband, so could get no more.'' A common 
excuse was, •• I have been si«'k a great ileal and have been unable to 
get uiiire." A woman who had an unusually large niunber of articles 
would announce tln^ nundier and then make her excuses with mock 
humility. One of them had a Inindred glass mats and a large nninber 
of ;,'ra.ts bags which she had made. .Another had sixty grass mats. 
One Very old woman, on the end of whose line an arrow was tied, 
began a song as she drew in the line and was joined by her husband. 
I'loth were Very old. and their i|uavcring voices united in a sad wail 
for their lost ones, as follows: 

M\ I liililrrii, wiiiirr iirr ymif 

.li'i/ii-i/ii'i/iii. 
(.'■•iiic liiK-k to iix, our rliililri'ii, 
\Vf ari' loiu'ly ami Hnil. 

Ji yil-yii-i/ui. 



"'"■-'"^^ GREAT FEAST TO THi; 1)i;a1) ' 37- 

For nnr cliildreii ari' noiir, 

Whilo Ihoso <)f our fVinnds rciiiain. 
.ii-]l(i-il<i-\iai. 
Com.. l.a.U, iifphew. .■omo l,,irk, «•,• miss you; 

.ti-itu-iji'i-jiai. 
Come had; (o 11s. oiir losf 011. -s, 
We Lavr presents for yon. 
,/i-.V'i-i/((.»/«i. 

This son.ii- had a wild, iiiournlii! hannony, and was siui- witli an 
earnestness that made it seem hke a re<(uieiii for tlie dead. 

Wlien the women had niven ont all tlieir articles anions those i.resci.t 
the (hiy's ceremonies were completed. 



At mi(hhiy the men ainoii-f the least .uivers were busy oiitsid.^ the 
kashim tying- together on lon^ rawhide conls various articles, among 
which were deer- and sealskins. < )ne man liad eighty deerskins, worth 
in trade one dollar eacii, and forty large sealskins, each wortli two<h)l- 
hirs and a half. Others had smaller numbers of the same articles, 
besides other things, and some men had a ndxed assortment, among 
which I saw over twenty pairs of trousers made of white drilling for 
summer tise, wooden dishes, rabbit-skin coats, and steel fox trajis. Tlie 
large articles were made into a roll and tied to one end of the cord, and 
the smaller ones were strung on poles. 

The meu and tlie hirge boys were gatliered in the kashim, but no 
women or children were permitted there at this time. When the male 
feast makers were ready they went into the kashim and occupied the 
middle of the room. Their bundles of skins, etc, were then lowered 
thi'ough the smoke liole, four at a time, one at each corner. .\s the bun- 
dU^s apx)eared the owners stei)ped forward and began a song of invita 
tion to the dead, like those sung by the women on the previous day. 
After the bundles had been raised and lowered from above several times 
they rested on tlie floor and were untied. Then the cords were raised 
aud other bundles let down while the singing continued. In this way 
all the bundles were lowered, the singers re(!eived their articles, and 
the songs were ended. The poles bearing the smaller articles were i)ut 
down in the same way. When everything was in the kashim the feast 
givers arose aud told how easily they had obtaiiu'd them, ch'prcciating 
their value in the same style as had been done with the gifts of the 
women on the previous day. Then the articles were distributed with 
excellent judgment. The guests from the interior were given seal- 
skins, the givers saying they did this because seals were scarce with 
those people. For a similar reason the people from the co:ist were 
given reindeer skins. 

After this was ended an interval passed during which the women and 
the children came in. Then the male feast givers lirought in a large 



.176 TIIK KKKIMO AllOlT HERING RTEAIT |rni. aspi. :g 

iiiiHitiiit i.f si-ail. wliiilc. and )i^ll oil, Koiin' hark fat <>f reiiiiU'cr, wvenil 
lH>\>-rtnr|>il<>l liifatl, and otIuT looil, whicli wa.s|>il«Ml up about the room, 
fjH-li I.f tln-owiuM-. sitting liy liis \>i\v. AlttT tlicy had all told how t'a>ily 
tlicy hail |>riM'un-d this IihhI, two of thiiu had a niork i|uaiTi'l .similar to 
till- I KT torn I a net- i>n jiri'vious days. This do])ii'ciatioii of thf ai tiih-s is 
lo Mhow tliiir hiiniilits and la<-k of i)rid<' in tlii-ir frilts. If thi.s in not 
doni- thry iM-lii-vi- tliai tin- .shadi-.s will liccouie an^'ry ami lirinn Kick- 
iit'.sH or olhiT ••vil upon Ilic villa^'i-. and at tin' sauu- tinit- il .^erveHto 
assun- tin- p<i>pli" that llic ;.'ivt'r.s do in>t feci jnoud of their jHisses- 
hion.H. 

Wlnu the f"«id was reaily for distriliution. eaeh lurson made a small 
oir<-rin^', l»y his or her lamp, of every kind of foo«l and from eaeh hag 
of oil, dish, or tul>, after which the remainder wa.s distributed. 

.Vmont; tin- IimmI was a lot of .small, bulbous rtMjts. tiiken by the women 
from till- winter stores of nnee on the tuudra. After the boxes of pilot 
bread uere emptieil of all but the fraijmeiits. the small boys, numbering 
nlMiut tiilrty. wen- jiermitted to scramble for them, which they <liil with 
great glee and gooil nature; when the boys had .secured all the frag- 
nu-nts, they each cast down a few crumbs at the foot of the lainjis, as an 
otVering to the shades, and went away. While standing about the room 
the nnile feast givers then sang a short, lively .song, at the end of which 
the people carried home the food that had been distributed. 

\\ hen this had all been taken out of the ka.shim,a shout was heard at 
the smoke hole in the roof, and a man cried out: " Your bag is oidy half 
full — that is the reason you have been sick," and lowered a large grass 
bag tilled to its utmost capacity. Another man .shouted down, " Big 
sleeper! You slept all the last two years, ami :ire still asleep; that is 
the reason you h;»ve :in empty bag." Another cried: " You stole very 
little last year when the people weie away from home; that is the I'cason 
your bag is empty." 

Accompanied by some such cry, a large bag of things, belonging to 
each least maker, male :iiid female, was lowered to the tlo<u-. 'Flic owners 
then cann> forward, opened their bags, and held up the articles contained 
therein, crying out, often si.x or eight of them at once, giving an inmg- 
inary history ot the manner in which they had been obti'.ine<l, and 
belittling the elVorts reipiircd to obtiiin them. The tr:ider who was with 
me w;is named Charlie Peterson. ;ind article after article was held up 
and its owner would cry out. •• I stole this from Charlie;"' or, '• 1 took 
this IVoin Cliailie;" oi-, •• I look this fioni Charlie's man,'' which .seemed 
t4i alVord considerable ainusenicnt. Oni^ nnm held up a rabliit skin co:it, 
in mock adndratinii, and said: ■■This is counted as liin- fui' upon this 
side." liai'h bag contained sever;d suits of I'ur clothing, int»-nded for 
the namesakes of the dc:id. The shouting of the lictitious histories of 
the articles contained in the bags continued for about two hours. .Many 
of the accounts were extremely ludicrous, causing much merriment. 

As e.icli least giver linished taking the things out of the bag he or she 



'^'-"^'l f>l{KAT FEAST TO TIIK DKM) .377 

called out, "Come to nu', n.y host beloved reh.tive,'" at ^^■lucl, the ,n,„e- 
sake ot the deceased relative eaine forward from among tlie people Tl.e 
feast -iver then removed the elothiii- from tlie iKimesake and repliee.l 
it with a complete new suit, the person sitling i)assivelv while this was 
heiiiK- done. As soon as the new snit ha.l been put uiuni the namesake, 
the feast giver gathered nj. the disciirded clothing on the Hour with the 
bags and placed them in the namesake's arms, who returned to his or 
her place among th<', villagers. As the namesake turned away the feast 
giver cried out in a loud voice, bidding the slia.lc of his relative to 
return to the grave where its bones lay. 

This was sometimes accomjianied by directions, such as, -'Co back 
to your grave on Clear creek and there circle about it once and then 
enter your grave box." Others told the shade to circle about its grave 
three times and enter it. Others told the shade to circle about the. vil- 
lage where it was buried and then enter the grave. The dead who 
were buried beside this village were told to go out and circle about tiu> 
place or kashiin and return to their graves. Hliades of ])ersons who 
had been drowned were bidden to return to the river. 

During this festival, from the time the dance of invitation is tirst 
performed in front of the graves, the shades of the dead are su])])osed 
to congregate in the i)it uiuler the floor of the kashini, and there to 
hear and enjo.y everything that goes on. .Sometimes they are said to 
be in the kasliim itself, but are invisible. Daring the last day they are 
believed to enter the bodies of their namesakes, so that when the 
clothing is ]iut on the latter the shades are (dothed. 

When a relative bids a shade to return to its burial place it nuist 
obey, and it goes back wearing the essence of the new clothing, as it 
is believed that when the old clothing is removed from the namesake 
and the new put on, the spiritual essence of the new garments goes to 
the shade. 

Two men among the namesakes were given complete suits of cloth- 
ing: also loaded guns, llasks of powder, caps, tilled bullet pouches, and 
similar articles. After receiving their gifts these men danced wildly 
about, flourishing their guns and shouting in great excitement. One 
man cried, "You don't believe me; you think 1 lie, but I will guard and 
protect the village from danger," at the sanui time tiring his gun 
toward the roof. The other ma.^. who received a gun went through a 
similar performance. The shouts of twcMity or thirty i)eopIe among 
the crowd of eager spectators and the tiring of guns in the dim light of 
the feeble oil lamps created a wild scene. 

Soon after the new clothing was i)ut on the namesakes, they went to 
their homes, where they left their extra garments and returned to the 
kashim. Then the feast givers exchanged their old garments for new 
ones, taking the old (dothing home, where it was left. In an lionr 
everyone had returned to the kashim, the drums were biought out again, 
and "the old men struck up the ordinary chorus song: 



378 TiiK ESKIMO Aimrr heiuxi; stkait :iiTii.*>!< u 

T' Hint: iiifinM»ii|>it'<l the middle of tht> room, shout- 

III;,' . ilii'ir Ijixlif-i. and s|iriii;.'iiin iiljidit in {;rt*at i-xcite- 

iiifiit U..I1I I >>:ii|'i'llrd to stop rroMi lack of breath, hut rusuiiiiiit; the 
daiii-c afliT a ^liort ii'mI. 'I'IiIm was continued without interinissiou 
until tlie middle of (he ni^'ht. 

t'util tliisdani-f wa-< concluded and the fcHtival thus ended nu one 
WAA |M-riiiilted to leaM- the villa;;e, as it was eoimidi-riMl that t4i do so 
uoiild iilVctid till' shades iiikI lirini; niist'oituiie U|Min the villa;;ers. 
Alter the dauc-c t-nded a jrreat lire was lifjhtcd in the kashiiii, and the 
niiMi tiH>k a sweat hath. < >n the tollowing morniii;; the (guests disjiersed 
to their homes. 

On one of my slcd^fi- jouineys 1 chaiii-ed to arrive at Kushntuk, near 
lla/tiinsky. on the lower Viikoii, oiif ni^rht dnriii}; the fjreat lestivalto 
tilt' dead. .Vt dusk I lighted a candle in the kashim. where none of the 
usual seal oil lamps wi-rt' hurnin;; at the time, and an old man at once 
took a ]iole, seven or ei{;lit leei Ion;;, and lie;;an thumping;; on the tliMir 
at the head of the room with measiin-d strokes. At the same time two 
yonn;; men arose and lighted a lamp upon each side of the room. 

Alter alioiit live minutes the old man ;;ave the pole to a hoy who iron- 
tiniieil the thiimpin;; for a few minutes lon;;er, until aliout a do/en of 
the feast ;,'ivcrs came in, each carryiu;; a grass ba;; of new clothing. 
They crept to their places in the same stimping posture noted at IJaz- 
binsky, indicating their hnniilily. After ranging themselves about the 
room the feast givers cliaiiged their old clothing for the new suits con- 
tained ill the bag, and several men and women ]Mit on w-olfskin lillcts. 
The Women all cairied featherornamenfed wands. The men formed in 
line at the head of the room, standing in front of the drummers and, 
whi-ii the latter began to beat time and sing, they commenced a dance. 
Other men took their places on eai-li side of the room and Joined in the 
dance, which, including the bear dance, was almost an exact repetition 
of the one performed at Ka/binsky. 

After about live minutes the dancers stamped heavily on the lloor, to 
cleanse themselves, as they said, and then sat down. Soon after they 
went out and brought in food, which they distributed after making the 
customary olVeriiii; to the shades by casting a small portion on the lloor. 
One of the old men lo!il me that the thumping on the lloor was to 
arouse the shades and call them to the dance. They were said to be 
silting in the grave boxes, with the body, awaiting tin- invitation and 
to answer the summons at once. They are supposed to enjoy these 
dances enually with the living, and as the feasting and dancing plea.se 
the iii\itcd ;;uests. so are the shades pleased and enlivened. The ni'.\t 
morning 1 was ol>!i;,'ei| to lesunie my juiirney and so tailed to witness 
the i-oiie|ii.siiiii of this festival. 

.\l .Vsktnnk. near Cape N'ancoin er. 1 was in the kashim about dusk 
one eveniii;.' and found the women learning a song to be given at the 



NEL.„N] ],OLL VESTIVAL— ni.Al.l.ni;, KKAST 379 

festival to the .lea.l a little later i„ the season. Later. ,1,,, in- the suae 
evening, I sat with a Huhted oau.lk^ l.elon. ,nein the kashini wiitin-n.y 
journal when a number of men eanie very .|nietlv an.l s.-ated theiu- 
selves in a senueuvle about me with fJuMr l.a.-ks in my .lirectioii scthat 
the light of the eaniUe was shut olf from tli." rest of the room I 
iiHluiie.l the reason for this and was told they wished to sing but eould 
not while the room was lighted, so they liad arranged tliemsehcs in 
this manner to shut oil' my light from the oilier part of the room with- 
out disturbing me. I immediately blew out the light, leaving the room 
in intense darkness, an<l the song began. I did not obtaii'rihe song, 
but a chorus of the common syllables, itil'-di i/.hliiii'-iiu.ya. occurre'ii 
between every few w(u>ds as they were given out by some of the old 
men. About twenty-five men were singing, their heavy bass voices 
sounding very well. Each time they came to the end of the i)orfion 
recited, they closed with a curicms kind of howl, and waited until the 
next words were chanted by the ])rompters and then went on again. 
They told me afterward that their reason for inacticing this t^oiig in 
utter darkness was that any shade which desired to be iiresent to hear 
the .singing might do .so without being driven away by the light. 

J)()I,I, FESTIVA.I, 

For notes on the Doll festival ( Yu-ni-i/Iiil-' or I'-ti-lyifah'), observed at 
Ikogiuut, the reader is referred to the tale of the Yu(jl-tjhik' among the 
legends, and in this connection attention is also called to the Dcdl festi- 
val, or Tfih-tuhn'. among the Tiiiiie near Anvik. The Itussian priest at 
^lission (Ikogmut) regards this festival as idolatrous, and has tried for 
many years to prevent the i)eople from observing it at that i)lace and 
in the neighboring villages. As a eonseiiuence, 1 found it dilluult to 
learn much about it from the Eskimo during my brief stay in that 
vicinity. 

One old man at Ikogmnt told me the legend of the Yiini-i/hik', giving 
an account of the origin of this festival as kept in their traditions, and 
added that the day after the images were setup in the kashim the men 
and the large boys of the place go out to bring firewood to the village, 
which they leave at the doors of the women and girls with whom they 
are paired during the festival. 

During the continuance of the festival the namesakes of deail men 
are paired with namesakes of their deceased wives without regard to 
age, and during this period the men or the boys bring their temporary 
partners firewood, and the latter prepare food for them, thus .symboliz- 
ing the former union of the dead. 

nLADDKIt I'EASTS 

The bladder feast {Chaii-)-ijfik) occurs annually at St .Mi.hacl, com- 
mencing between the lOtli ami the LMith of December, the exact date 
depending on the phase of the moon. 



;SM( TIIK ESKISHi Allot T IIKUINO STItAIT irrii. A.-.!., is 

t'irfl i/oj( 

Tin- i\nii\ai ..j.. 11' i> iln- iiifii ;;iviiip tin- kiisliim, iiirliidiii}; tlie lire- 
pH.ii tliiirouyli rlraiiiiiK. After ilark :ill tlu« iiiiMi, wkiihii. aiiilfliildriii 
ill till* villat;)- i4iillu-r <>ii the riHif nr (In- kasliiiii and an old man bi at-^ a 
diHiii ttliilo tin- i>«'opli' unit*' in a lutun addrcsw*! to the wild parsnip 
(.lr./tiim/«/.V«i, the hlalkH of which an- standiiit: nn^'athered mi the 
diotJint hillflidcH. 

i>n the Hfiond day four iiuii ;;>> out and jjatlier biindle8 of stalks of 
thi- wild parMiip i kiti'il.) which they i>hue on top of the entrance way 
oiii-idi- the kashiiii. When e\eninu comes these ItiindleH are taken 
itiHide and l.iiil on the lloor. while tin- little boys of the village roll over 
them and wrestle with one anotlieroii tojiof them: then they areopened. 
tlie stalks spread on the lloor, and each man takes one in his hand and 
sits at his plai-e in the kashiin unitin;,' with the others in a son;: asking; 
ihi- stalks to become dry: when the heat of the room ilries the stalks 
they are formed into a lar;;e sheaf. 

Third day 

At daybreak on this moinin;; the sheaf is opened and from its con- 
tents a Binaller sheaf is made altont a foot in diameter, one end of 
which is Ihnist ilowii on a stake, four or live feet long, planted in the 
lloor, in front of the oil lamp which ordinarily burns at the rear of the 
room. When it is daylight eack hiinter brings into the kashim the 
inllated bladilers of all the .seals, wliale>, walrus, and white bears that 
he has killed during the year. Each man ties the bladders in a bunch 
by the necks and these bunches are hung upon seal spears stuck in the 
wall in a row six or eight feet above the lloor, at the back of the rcMiiii. 
I'ood is then brought into the ka.shim and olVerings of small fragments 
an- thrown on the lloor before the bladders: a libati(ui of water is also 
made in the same place: then the food is passed about and everyone 
]iartakes of it. 

luurlli day 

i III this inorning every hunter takes down his bunch of bladders and 
marks each with bands and dots of ]iaiiit made from charcoal and oil: 
the tharcoal ii-^ed for this purpose is imide usually from wild parsnip 
stalks. In the evening small torches :ire maile from i>arsnip stalks, 
which burn with a bri;;lit, llaring. resinous lUiiiie. Kaeh of the young 

nun takes r f the torches ami rushes about the room, leaping and 

shrieking like a madman, waving the llaming toiches about the bla<l- 
ders. so a'^ to bathe them slightly in the lire and smoke, and then into 
the faces of the men w ho are sitting about the room. When the place 
becomes lilled with thick smoke this ))eiformance ends by the torch 
bearers jumping wildly about and shouting, while the young men and 
boys eatcli one another and in succession each one is forced backward 
down through the hole in tlie middle of the lloor; everyone resists in a 
g bnatiired wny until he is overcome and forced through. 



'"■■''-""''■' m-ADI.Elt FKSTIVAL 331 

On tl.is,lM,v tlu. .,„.„ ivmain iu the kaslmn a.ul „„ „ne is pcrmilte.l to 
do any w.,rk m the viUage, while ail wait for the lull moou The lirst 
night ot the, waning moon each man ties his bladders into a lu.n.lle 
whudi Ks fastened al.out the head of a large seal spear, and they are 
then hung on a line strung across the back of the room. The same d»v 
the men go out and make a hole iu the sea ice before the villa-e about 
a quarter of a mile from the shore. When this has been done t\vo men, 
each with a small seal spear iu his hand, run out to the hole in tiie ico 
aud dip the point of their spears in the water and run back to the 
kashim as quickly as possible and stir up their bladders with the points 
of their spears, alter which they drop their spears, and. going over to 
the large bundle of parsnip stalks, strike it with their open hands. 
Then two or three men start out aud repeat this ceremony, and so on 
until it has been done by every one of the hunters. 

When this is tiuished all the hunters seat them.selves around the 
kashim and join in a song of welccmie to tlie guests, while the other vil- 
lagers, men, women, aud childreu, tile iu one after the other and exe- 
cute a short dance. 

SUIh day 

Just at sunrise the following morning every man takes Lis spear, 011 
which the bladders are hung, aud, forming a long lile, all go out to the 
hole iu the iee as fast as tliey can run. Reaching tliis, eacdi kneels down 
by it, aud, tearing the bladders from his spear, thrusts them down one 
by one through the hole under the ice. When this is finished all return 
to the village. Meanwhile the old men have brought out the bundle 
of parsnip stalks from the kashim and, i)lacing them on the sea ice in 
front of the village, have built a small lire of driftwood. As the men 
return fioin the hole, the entire population gathers al)out the tire and 
unites iu a song of welcome to the guests. 

Fire is now aj)plied to the bundle of wild parsnip stalks and tliey 
burst into a high, waving flame. As the returning men draw near 
they start to run for the tire, each leaping through it in succession, 
uttering a loud whoop in which the villagers Join witli a chorus of 
shrieks and cries. On the occasions of my witnessing this rite I was 
asked by the Eskimo to Jump through the flanu; with the hunters, and 
as they seemed to think it was re(iuired by custom I complied. When 
the men have all passed through the llame the women ami children rush 
frantically into the fire, stamping and dashing the embers about until 
it is extinguished, perfectly regardless of burning boots and clothing. 
Everyone then forms in a line and marches once around the village; 
sometimes two files are formed which march about the place in opiwsite 
directions at the same time. 

After this a fire is built in the kashim and the iiieu take a sweat bath. 
The fire having burned down, the kashim is closed, the tloor planks put 
in place, and the ineii form a circle around the room, each bent over and 



;,^J THE J>Kl.Mt) AllolT IIKUING STKAIT niiAVNiB 

liaxiiiK liH Ii.iihU mi tin- nape of the on*' in fruiit of lijiii; overyoiie is 

mil-. I wo nude Im>_vh nrt' iila<-«*<l ill tlie midtllc of tlif riii^j 

:i rin-li- fiiiir I iiiii-M around SIu'Idoiii from left to ri^lit (witii 

" -.<>\(')-|it llioHc ill till- iiiiildli' of till- riii^.fliiiiliitig ii|Hiii 

.i.sJiiK I'ai'li oilii-r about. 

:iiiir riri'iiil.s of tin* riMUii liavc been roni]))ft<'d, tlif 

111411 h!i>|i and ^la|><'a<'ll iiilii-r lic.irtily u]ioii tliel)a<-k until i-ai'li has liail 
ciioii;.-!) : tlii-ii tlii-y hlaml bark from tiie hole in tin- middle of the tloor 
and juiiip over it iiiilil Momu one nearly (alls in. Two line« are now let 
down from the roof; handles are tied to the ends, wliic-h are stniie dis- 
(aiiie from (In- ilnor, and tin- men t^rasp them, attcinptint; to raise 
themselves up and )>e!'l'orin oth<-r trials of stren^h. This ends tlic 
festival, but no work must lie tlone in the villa;:e diirin;; the uext 
four days. 

At one of these fisrival> witnessed at St Michael, the ceremonies of 
the last morniii;: vaiieil from those de.scribed. .lust before sunrise a 
small bunch ot dried jtarsnip stalks was lighted and waved about the 
bladders ami also over and inside the watcrjiroof gut skin shirts worn 
by the hunters when in their kaiaks at sea. which were brought in for the 
purpose. Tin- headman of the village then stooil u]) and each hunter 
lilai-til be>idi- himself a small bundle of dried gra.ss. The headman took 
these, one afti-r the other, and passed them about the bladders belong 
ing to their owners, repealing at the same time certain directions to 
the sliailes in a low tone of voice. As soon as he had completed this, 
the hnnter to whom the bladders bclonge<l would cry out ".li i/tii.'" 
The straws were then lighted and again ])assed over the bladders, the 
charred stunijis being returne<l to the side of their owner, after which 
llii^ hunters made Idack paint of wild jiarsnip charcoal and oil, with 
whiih they striped one another's faces and drew a double cross (j) 
upon the miildh- nf <-ach one's back and chest. 

Then each huntci- took the spear to which his bladders had been 
fastened and all manhed about the hole in the middle of the lloor, each 
making several feints before putting his bladders through the hole and 
taking tin'iii oiiiside. At the hole in the ice the blathlers wj-re Inirst 
by incansof a seal-claw ii-c scratcher, and several strands of seal sinew 
were tie<l t'l e.ich before thrusting it under the ice. 

Oil December l.">, IST'.i, 1 reached Kusliunuk, ne^ir Ca])e Vancouver, 
and found the I.ladder festival in progress. Hanging from the roof 
ovi-r the mitliile of the lloor was a fantastic bird-shape image, said to 
represent a sea gull. It had the jirimary quill feather of a gull stuck 
in each side of ilic body to represent the wings. The biidy was covered 
with till- skin and feathers of the small Canada go<i.se [llrnnta ania- 
ili iisiH miiiiiiiii). It was fastened to a long, slender, rawhide cord 
which jiassed tliiongh an eye fastened to one of the roof logs, and 
thence down to the lloor on one side of tiic room. Hy ]>iilliiig and 



HLADl )F.U FKSTIVAL 



3 S3 



eleasmg tl..s .or,], tl.o unajro ..oul.l 1,. ,nnd. to ^li.l,. ,„, .n.l ,!ou n. 
LelHMd this, at tl.e i>nck of tl,.- ,„or„. was ,,h,nt,..l a ..ok- al.out ie„ iK-t 
long, to the ui.,.er end of whirl, a bundle of wil.l.,,arsni,, stalks «-,s 
honud like a »rear brush or beson,. The ,,ole was banded alon-. its 
entire length with red and white |,aint. and fastened on two sides of it 
near the middle, were two ,,airs of reindeerskin stri,)s whieh hnn- down 
two or three feet. On th.e left sid,. of the room. hun<r liori/.,ntally mid- 
way between the lloor and ceiling, was a large sheaf of seal and walrus 
spears, their heads j.artly in one direction and i>artlv in another. 
Attached to these, a bunch being fastened to each spear, were sev- 
eral hundred seal and walrus bladders, all ot which were s|>otted 
and blotched with grayish-white jiaint: each spear had tied to it the ' 
bladders belonging to its owner. Hanging about the room, singly or 
in bunches, were a number of reindeer bladders, but none of thesi^were 
hung with those of the seal and the walrus. On the side of the room 
opposite the si)ears and bladders, at an ei]ual height from the lloor. 
hung a large bundle of wild-parsnip stalks. All about the roimi and 
on the sides were arranged various sjx'ars used in hunting seals and 
walrus. Under the wild ])arsnip stalks and beneath the spears and 
bladders was a ]iile of thirty or forty wooden hunting helmets of various 
shapes, some of which wore ornamented with carved ivory images, 
while others were not thus ornamented: they were ])ainted white or 
brown, with white blotches, and on many of them were depicted female 
phallic symbols. Back of the eutri.nce hide in the floor stood a large 
walrus skull. 

When 1 entered the room one of my dogs followed, and immediately 
a man seized a drum and began beating it to exorcise the evil inlluence 
of the dog's })resence until it was hastily expelled. 1 looked about the 
room and went over to the bladders and felt one to learn the nature of 
the paint with which it was spotted: my movements seemed t() startle 
the men very much and all raised a loud outcry. I afterward heard 
the same cry raised if any loud noise was accidentall.\' made near these 
objects. When our (tamping outlit was brought in from the sledges, 
two men took drums, and as the clothing and goods of the traders who 
were with me were brought in, the drunis were beaten softly and a song 
was sung in a low, huinniing tone, but when our guns and some steel 
traps were brought in, with other articles of iron, the drums were beaten 
loudly and the sougs raised in iJi-oportion. This was done that the 
shades of the animals present in the bladders might not be frightened. 

Early in the evening the boys of the village gathered outside the 
kashim aiul raised a great outcry. An hour later the hunting helmets 
were ranged around the kashim, forming a circle on the lloor inclosing 
the walrus skull and the stake. Very soon attei' this a bundle of straw, 
such as is used for pads in boot soles, was thrown down from the hole 
in t!ie roof; a man took this, and hohling it at arm's length over his 
head while be marched arouml the ring of helmets, deposited it on the 



384 THE KSKIMu AH'iIT HK.KINO STUAIT (mi. »x».l» 

ll«x»r lit tin- I'liiM' of tlic sfaki'. Tlif « alnin skull nas then placod ilo8« 
to tin* li"l«' ill till' tliMir with a foliiftl ntniw mat bofiire it; two >iiiall 
MiNxIcii biii'ketH of wati-r wi-if liroii(;ht in and |>lafi-<l in front of the 
hole to HyiiilMiii/c till- —A. tlu> holf thii^ ii-pn'sentint,' a seal hole lead 
liiK' int«i till- SIM tliroii;;h the iie. After tliiri no one was periuittetl to 
h-ave the room until the fveniii;; lerenionieH were <ompl<te«l. as the exit 
lioli- was the only ineaiis of I'uress and was snp|K>sed lo l»e used during 
tins time liy the shades of the animals, and eonseipiently was tubooe*!. 
iMirint; this time it liecaine. li^'iiratively, the enlranre t4i the sea. 

The men and the Itoys now put on their helmets, and the one who had 
fir-<t taken the ura^s from liesideearh hunter u;;ain took it up and, after 
wa\in;: it over his head, seatteit-d it in the ring just inside the jdaee 
where the eircle of helmets had been; this w;»s s;iid to represent lliO 
drilt weeds lyiiifX on the seashore. 

A Noun;; man now seated himself under the sjiear." and bladders and 
aiiipther under the larye bunilie of wild i>arsnip stalks, their feet resting 
on the riii;; of gras.s. The ilruiiis heg.in to beat loudly, and the y<iuiig 
men aiound the room imitated the notes <if the eider duek. In a slmit 
timi' the men and the boys ranged themselves around the HK)m jn»t 
oiitsiile the eircle ii ade by the grass, the women and the girl.s being 
behind them and next to the wall. The headman ehitnted a few words 
of a song in time to the be.iting of the iliiims, which was taken up us 
a retrain by every <ine, including men, women, au»I boy.s. each p;irly 
repeating it in alternation. I>uiing this song one of the young men 
iinitateil in pantoiniine the motions of a loon and another those of a 
niiirre. These men remained seated n|ion the floor, swaying their heads 
and biMlies about in the most Hingular postures, like those of a bird 
di\ ing and swimming under w;iter, or on the snrf;ice. pecking with their 
beaks, etc, alter which they made :i lla])|iing motion with their hands as 
il rising and flying away, imitating :it the same time the cries of the 
birds they were representing. 

.V short interval followed, during which a single drnmmer and singer 
Continued the music; then various others id° the dancers began similar 
bird movements, and all began drumming and singing as before. The 
new dancers sIihxI about the ring of grass, and one made the motions 
of » beaver at work cutting bushes and building a dam. Another 
gestured his encounter with the enemy and his eseajie from a hostile 
force. 

Suddenly luie of the singers sprang to his feet and, sei/ing the two 
Wooden buckets of water, vanished through the hole in the floor. At 
the same moment the men iMid boys ran out to the large buniUeof wild- 
parsnip stalks and •■ach put his hunting helmet upon it as ipuckly iis 
possible. Nearly every one left tin- kashiin at this time, and .soon a man 
eaiiie in who had been stripped to the waist at the outer door. He bore 
a wooden dish ot" food, which lii< held high over his head, and circled 
once around the r^iom as an oil'ering to the slia<les and liiinilKit in the 



■ ""■' lil.ADDKR FESTIVAL ^^f^ 

skylaud; then 1,0 stamped on ti.e lloor tw., or tl.roe ,1,,,.. an.l tlu- ...o 
pie came in, bring my food, of w!.i,.l, he part.-ok ' 

Xo further ceremonies were eondn.ted until the middle of the ni^l.t 
when he lights were suddenly extinguished and ti,e shama, tt r ' 
frou, the root, a long series of unintelligihle words ending wit la 1„ j 
shout.Mlowed by his entry into the kashin,. Then tl.: li.vl,t we e 
renewed and a bucket of water was placed on the iloor under^he hhul 
ders. A man and three boys then stripped, and one of the bo^•s was 
Idaced astride the man's back, where he hung by his arn.s and k-s 
twined about the man-s bo.ly; the other two boys stoo.l in a sto.„.in:. 
posture m front of the bucket of water, and the man ..arrving the boy 
oil his back stood beside them. 

This mail dipped up some water with his hand and tossed it un 
toward the bladders, so that it fell back in a shower upon the two 
boys and himself. After doing this for some time he carried the bucket 
around the room, (Continually llirting the water up toward the roof with 
one hand as a libation to tlie tnu;ihdf of the air. The 1)oys then knelt 
iu the middle of the room with bowed heads and rounded shoulders 
while the cold water in the buckets was dashed over them. Shortly 
after a growling noise was heard under the lloor. and a man with the 
hood of his fur coat over his head and a kaiak paddle in his hand 
entered and stood in one corner of the room. He was soon followed 
by another, also carrying a paddle, who went to the corner occuiiied 
by the first comer, while the latter went ou to the nest corner; then 
a third man came in, and the preceding ones advanced each to the 
uext corner, aud the first comer was occupied by the third man; a 
fourth entered, and the changing of places was coutiuued so that each 
of the four comers was occupied. These men then marched around 
the room several times, lifting the bladders with their paddle blades as 
they passed and knocking dowu the spears that were stuck np on the 
walls of the room. 

After this thej' filed out, and the pco|)le gathered up the fallen s])ears, 
removing their points. The bunch of \vildi)arsnip stalks was fast- 
ened to the stake at the back of the room, and the bundle of spears, to 
which the bladders were hung, was lowered to a level with the sleeping 
benches, betweeu three and four feet above the tloor. When the four 
men went outside they planted their i)addles, blade downward, in front 
of the kashiin, forming a row across the entrance. To the top of each the 
owuer tastened his wooden hunting helmet, which had been worn under 
his fur hood when iu the kashiin. To each helmet was fastened a hunch 
of straw or grass similar to that used to form the ring on the floor, rep- 
resenting seaweed. To the heads of this grass were fastened a few 
snuill, downy gull feathers. 

Early on the following morning the old men told us that we must not 
stamp our feet iu the kashiin during that day, for fear of alarming the 
shades of the animals that were expected to be present. The bunch of 

IS ETII I'o 



38ij Tin; k-kimo Aitoir ukkinu stkait itm *.-(». »« 

wil(l'|iiirMni|>HtalkK \ra.s li(;lit<-<l ami whvimI llainiii^'. tnward tin- cardinal 
|H>iiitA. aflcr wliicli till- rliaiie*! stiiiiips wiTo laid ut tin* foot of the 
Htaki-. AlMiut iKMiii t»o men took the small ImiikUl'.s of ]>arsni]> stalks 
anil li;:lit<-d tlit-m. waving; tlit- llnmc abont tlic liladders. and after 
catiyiiij; tluin around tin- room went out tlirouKli the |)»s8a);oway 
to I he outer iltMir. The i liarred stalks w«'re then brought back and 
laid nil the IliHir under the lar^f bundle of stalks on the stake. Notli- 
in;: more was done until Just after noon, when a bat; made of sealskin 
wa-^ brou;:lit in. The men then took their urine buckets and went out- 
ride, carrying; the ha;;, and ea<h poured urine from his bucket njion it, 
slioutiii;.' louilly siune unintclll;jilde words, alter which all <;ime back 
into the rtjom ami siri|>pe4l themselves to the waist. 

."siMiii aflt-rwanl the cover was removed front the smoke hole in the 
root, arid tin- sealskin ba;;. haviu); attached to it llie four iielmets worn 
by the men who had eiil<Med with the ])addles on the previous evenin;:, 
was lowered throu;.'h the hole by a rawliide line ami was hunp on the 
stake at the head of the room; then the owners went to the hehnet.s 
and remo\c4l the ;;rass that was fastened to them, and each tied a few 
blades to his bunch of bladders. The helmets were then taken down 
ami placed on the lloor at tin- toot of the .stake. 

rp to this timetlie seal ba;; had been empty, but it was now taken 
down and intlated and hun;;up by the nose on the middle of the sheaf 
of spears to whicii the bladders were fastcncfl; to each hind-llipper 
was tied a luimary wiii;r-featlier of the I'acilic ;;laucoiis ;.'uli. There 
was (hen an interval without ceremonies lastin;; until eveninj;. 

I'.arly ill the eveniu;; everyom- ;,'athered in the kashini and the wjd- 
riis skull and the grass mats were jilaced in the same position as on the 
previous evening. Sudtlenly a linrniiig stalk of wild parsnip was 
waved in the entrance hole from below, a man's heatl appeared, and a 
dish of f(H)d was jihu-ed on the lloor and slid across to the corner of the 
room between tlie bladders and the stake: the man entered and went 
over to the bladders, where he stopped. Anotiier man then went throii;;li 
the same performance, waving the burning stalk and sliding in a disii 
of foiMl, etc, succe«-iled by two others, until the four men were ran;:etl 
side by sitle in front of the bladders. They were the same who had 
come ill with the paddles during a former «-ereiiiony. 

The llrst lighted a bunch ol' parsnip stalks, to whicli was tied ail the 
points taken from the (alien si)ears on the jtreceding night. Waving 
this about a few times in the corner where his wooden dish had been 
slid, he raised it over his head and turned once slowly around. Alt<r 
this the bla/ing mass was waved over the four wooden dishes which 
had been slid into the corner, over the two empty buckets which had 
contained the water symboli/ing the sea during the last night's ceie- 
monies, and alioiit tiie bladders and liie I'liarred stumps were tlii-ii laid 
at the foot of the stake. 

lie went iii\t to the tour wooden dishes and maile motions as though 



""■""'^ HLADKKU l-KSTIVAL 3^.- 

scoopingupfoodfron, tl..„, in boll, hands and .-astin,- ir toward the 
bladders: at the sa.no ti.ne a man sittin, in an obsen,; nnner "n ! 
vgorotas pull to the hne passing ti-on, his hand .hn.UKh a h,„,.~i hi 
root and down to the bh.dde.s. wlueh caused then ,0 os^.ilh.te vio ! , • 
ami was supposed to indicate the acce,.tance of the ollerino- bv the 
shades of the animals in the bladders. ' 

The other three n.en repeate.l these'rites in every detail, after whi.d. 
he drtuns were beaten and the fonr n,en execnted a curions dance in 
trout of the bladders, which were swung about as before, to in.licate 
the.r pleasure The dance was beo-un by a pcckinJ,^ Jerking n.otion 
from side to side and forward, while the dancers niove.l sh.wlv alon^ 
111 front of the bladders. Then tlie .lance was chan-ed to an obli.uie 
gallopino- movement, after which the arms were tossed up and down 
giving the body a juniiHTig motion; then lirst one leg. then the other" 
was thrown up and a hop made on the other, followed by .|ui.]c hops 
sidewiseaud longjumi)s lbrward,all keeping perfc.-t time to the drums. 
This dauce was said to be au inutatiou of the movements of seals and 
walrus. 

Throughout the performance a half-grown girl stood beside the four 
dancers swaying her body back and forth with an undulating motion. 
The four men repeated their series of motions or dances several limes 
in succession, uutil they werecom])ellcd to stop from exhaustion: when 
they ceased their jdaces were taken by lour others, who repeated the 
dance, and they in turn by four others, and these again by two othei' 
sets, another girl being substituted with each set of dampers. 

One of the men told me that each of these sets of dancers coini)rised 
only men of the same ''kin," by which, so far as I conld ascertain, he 
referred to the gens, since people of the same gens arc considered by 
them as being of the same kin. In this case it evidently imjilied that 
four geutes were represented in the festival, as indicated by the totem 
marks on the four paddles standing before the door. 

When the dance ended, the four dishes of food were carried around 
the hole in the floor, after which their contents were distributed and 
eaten. In a short time two straw mats were spread on the llor)r before 
the entrance hole, and two men stripiied to the waist sat upon them, 
facing the hole. In the pit under the Hoor w^ere all the hunters who 
owned the bladders hanging in the kashim, and each had in his hand a 
small wisp of straw or grass like that already described, which were 
handed, in .succes-sion, to the men on the mats, the one handing them 
up showing nothing but his hand and arm. As each wisp was passed 
up, the man who received it called out the name of its owner, who 
resi)onded by making a- short speech, which created great laughter 
among the i)eoi)le seated around the kashim. 

Among other things, the men stated in the speeches that the grass 
they were handing up served as beds for the /«H((.v of the bladders. AVlieii 
each speech was ended, the man who had taken the grass hau.led it 



;;>•< TIIK ESKIMO AltOlT IJKUlNXi STRAIT ^rti. asm. U 

to tlif mail <>|i|K>^ito oil tin- otlitT iiiut, wlio broke it into lialvcH and bound 
tilt' t»o«'iiils to;;i-tliiT. TliiMi taking; up tlie Htiiiupof the iiarsiiip stalk 
toitli, tuuiiicli till- siMiiriMjirits were atta<liP«l. lie lighte<l it and passed 
th« liu'litotl fiitl over and around the ;:i!ims, at the same time sayiiifj in 
a loiid voiif, ■• When ilu-y sit down they are sleepy and fall down;" 
he then fell, ami, rollinj; over, laid the grass on the llo<ir. This was 
repeated lor every hunter, and syniboli/.iil the killinf; of the seals with 
tin- spear|Hiiiiis which were attached to the torch. In the middle of the 
night tht^ lamps were again extinguished ami the shaman went on the 
iijof, where another sjieecli was matle to the bladders through the smoke 
hole. This s|>ee<li was emleil by a blowing noise, such as is made by 
soals and walrus when they come to the surface to breathe. Afterward 
the shaman made a sipieaking and grunt iiig noise, such as a i)Uii seal 
utters when trying to find its mother. 

At 1 oelock ill the moriiing everyone arose, and the dances given by 
sets of lour men on the i»revious night were rejieated in all their details, 
except that fewer motions were made with the arms and the upper part 
of the body. The woman dancing with each .set tiMik the unligbted 
bunch i>!' parsnip stalks and passed it about the dishes of fooil before 
they were olVered to the iiiuax of the bladders. 

When the dance and the food olVerings had been completeil, thechiet 
shaman — the one liist mentioned as leading the ceremonies and who 
directed all the ob.servanees — lighted a i»arsiiii» stalk torch and jia.ssed 
it about the room, holding it close to tlie lltMir. lie then circled with it 
about each of the dancers, who removed their fur coats and the torch 
was pa.ssed about their bodies and inside and about their fur coats. 
This was said to be done to jKirify the room and the dancers and to 
remove any evil influence that might bring sickness or bad luck to the 
hiinter.s. Four of the men then sat beneath the bladders for a short 
time, after which they arose and seated them.selves close together on 
the sleeping bench beliiml the spears ami bladders. 

A w(uiiaii then brought in a large wooden bucket of food, and, after 
passing a lighted parsnip stalk torch about it. made an ofl'eiing to the 
blaildeis. .■^he then stood in front of the bladders, facing the middle 
of the loom, and so near that the bladders brushed her back when 
they were swung back and forth a moment later by a man hauling on 
a cord. The shaman then took a boy about twelve years of age, who 
was stiipped to the waist, and laid him across the eiitram-e hole in the 
lloor, at the same time kneeling over him and making a low noise like 
the note of the niiirre. Meiieath the lloor a man started a song, in 
which the people in the kashim Joined. 

Immediately after the song was liiiisheil the hunters rushed to the 
bladder> and each took those he owned and fastened tliein about the 
hea<ls of two or three of the pointless spearshafts. A song was then 
sung by the ))eople and the bladders were laid with the spearshaftsoii the 
lloor by the eiitiance liole, while all of the other spears, the large stake. 



"^■■""■"J BLADr.KU FESTI\-AL ggf) 

and the other things ^^•,.re taken down from the walls, and all tiu- ^vild. 
parsnip stalks that remained in the room were tied in a lar-e bundle 
which was fastene.1 to the top of the stake like a huse brooin or l.rush' 
\^ hen this was done, the shaman went on the roof and. removii... the 
cover, put in his head repeate.Uy at eaeh eorner of th,. sniokeliole 
while he made a .yrnnting noise like a youno- ,,„,,,,,.. Another kneli 
over the entrance hole in IVont ..f the kashin. and repeated the noise 
It was now 3 oclock, and the spearshafts to whi.^h the bladders were 
fastened were passed np to the shainaii throuoh the smoke hole. Their 
owners immediately went out throu.uh the passageway, and each obtain- 
ing the shafts bearing his bladders ran rajwdly to the foot of the km.ll 
on which the village is located. When the hunters were all outside. 
the top of the great brush of ])arsiiii) stalks on the stake was lighted! 
making a huge torch, which was passed up through the smoke' hole" 
The chief shaman took it on his shoulder and ran across the snow- 
covered plain as ra|)idly as possible, followed by all the men, holding 
the bladders aloft on the ends of the spearshafts. ISehind the hunlers 
ran the women, children, and old men. howling, screaming, and making 
a great uproar. 

The night was cold, calm, and very dark, so that the lurid llame of 
the torch arose ten or twelve feet, casting a red glare over the snow- 
covered plain and lighting up the swarm of fantastic, fnr-eovered 
figures that went streaming along in wild excitement. Nearly a (juar- 
ter of a mile from the village the crowd reached the borders of a small 
pond, where a square hole had beeu made through the ice, close by 
which the shaman thrust the lower end of the stake into the snow so 
that the torch stood erect. The hunters then stood by the hole in the 
ice and, using a detached spearpoint. ripped open the bladders. Then 
taking the collai)sed bladders in one hand and a kaiak ])addle in the 
other, they inarched several times around the hole, each time dipi)ing 
the point of the paddle blade and the collapsed bladders in the water 
at the corners of the hole. They then put the bladders one at a time 
into the water under the ice, where they remained. This ended the 
ceremony and all returned to the village. 

Soon after daybreak four men with their ])addles came in and, as 
before, moved from corner to corner in succession until all were in, 
when they inarched around the room, making no motions with ilieir 
paddles, and then went out. When the lirst of these men came in lie 
was greeted by a great shout from everyone in the room, and the other 
three were greeted successively on their entrance by a loud groaning 
noise. An hour later the old men told everyone to be quiet, and two 
men went to the entrance hole in the tloor where they sat down side 
by side. One of them held a bundle of small sticks, each stick repre- 
senting a hunter, and as he i)asscd these singly from haml to hand the 
other man rolled over on the lioor as he liad done with the grass wisps 
ou the previous evening. 



3;m» the F-SKIMm Altoir KEIMNG STHMT [btii.*%>. w 

iMiriiii: this tliiy iill work was prohiliitid iii tin- villagf. Kveii the 
fur trail«T ami uiysflf wero ri-'|ii<-''ti'«l to do uoiie. it Ikmiik explaiiirtl 
tliat to work 1)11 this tlay wuiihl i-uiisf Koiiie of the |>L'«j|ile to die, since* 
it wonltl olliiiil the hha«lt>M of tlio animals. We wen- also a.skeil to be 
very « an liil not to make any noi-i- in the ka>hini. Kvery time any 
Hn<lit<-n noiHt* whs aeeidentally made all of the men preseut united in a 
ehoruM of enes, imitatiiif; the notes of the eiiler <luck, so that the 
HhadfS of seals and other animals whose bladders had iM-eii suspended 
ill till- riHiiii should a(tril)iit<- the noisr to th<»e birds rsither than to the 
IK-ople. In the afteriKJon a dance was perlbrmed by these men, in time 
todrniiiM and sin;;int;. It eonsisted of leaping; and Juinpini; nioveinenls 
like thoH«> already ilrseribed in the danee to the bladders. That even- 
iiif; the head shaman, stripped to the skin, sat on the straw mat iu front 
of the evil hole in tin- lliHir with a fur homl over his head. .Some men 
then bound his Inuitls and fn-i with rawhide <-ords and a loii>: <'ord was 
fastened to his iieek by a slippiiij; noose. 

Two assistants then earried him down throu;;h the hole and placed 
him on a ;,'rass mat in the fire pit. Another eoril was then passed 
around his hands and knees and bound at the back of his iieek, beiii(; 
drawn so tij^ht that his face was bron^rht down iietwi-m his knees, and 
in this position he wa^j made fast. One of the assistants went out to 
^'uard the outer d«M>r of the i>as.sa','eway. while the other eame back 
into the riMiin and, after drawiii<; tight the line fastened t4i the shaman's 
neck, spread a grass mat over the hole in the lloor. This line lielil by 
the assistant now began to run out. then slacken up, then run out again, 
as though something was traiveling away with it below the tloor. 

This was continued for some time; meanwhile the dnimining and 
singing of the men in the kasliim were kept up. Finally a kind of 
grr)aning was heard from the shaman and several men ran to the hole 
with th<- light, and found him bound as he hati been at lirst, but about 
live feet from the point where he had been jdaced. 

I>r.ring the performance theeord fastened to the shaman's neck, one 
end of which was held by his assistant in the kashiin, had i)een pulled 
down under the llooi for ten or fifteen yards, which must have been 
done by the assistant outside, as tlio shaman was bound too securely 
to do more than hitch a little along the ground, but the peo])lu in the 
kashim ludieved that the drawing out of the cord had been done by the 
Khainan himself, iiidicatiii;; that he had traveled far away. 

When he was uiilxiund he came back into the kashim and sat down 
before the exit hole. After sitting <|uietly for a moment he liegan to 
t4dl a long story di-scril>ing the journey he had Just made into the sea, 
folloUing the shades of the seal bladders. He said that he had talked 
with all but two of the shades and had seen Siune shades ot' the blad- 
ders he owned playing together in the water; that some of the shades 
told him they were very iiiiu-h (deased with the men who ha<l taken 
them and ;:ivi'n them such a line festiv:il: others complained that 



^■'=''"^' III.ADDKU FES^TIVAL 391 

the hunters lia.l treated rl.eii. ba.lly and had notofleied them sullicieiit 
food. He a.lded that the sliades of the blad(h'rs swam faster tliis year 
than the year before, iiiakini; it more dilVicult to overtake them. 

Durins- this aeeounr tlie names of the hunters were mentioned and 
the shaman repres'ented the bladch'i- shades as eritieisin;;- very harshly 
the prominent faults of some of tiieni. which seemed t'i) ehaf;rin the 
victims of this criticism considerably. After this was ended two 
buckets of water were placed in front of the exit hole in the lloor and 
a man hiy down on each side of it. At midnight everyone in the 
kashim arose and stripped tr) the skin, the lloor was removed, and a great 
fire made in the pit. AVlien the wood burned down, leaving a bed of 
glowing coals, the heat became intense, so that the men were in a 
scorching atmosphere with the [lerspiration rolling down their bodies. 
While in this coiulition all bathed in urine, which had been retained in 
the wooden biu'kets. This was said to render them ch'an from any evil 
influence that might follow from the ro<'eiit presence of the shades in their 
midst, and ended the observances connected with the festival. I'ntil 
this bath had been taken no one was ])eruiitted to leave the kashim, nor 
during the course nf the festival was anyone i)ermitted to hunt or lisii. 

At this village there were two kashims side by side, half of the vil- 
lage belonging to eadi. During the time that the least Just described 
was being observed in one of these luiuses a similar festival was going 
ou in the other. I was unable to learn an\ thing about the cereiuouies 
coiulucted there, as my attention was fully occupied in the oue where I 
stopped, but a hasty visit showed that the arrangement of the interior 
was exactly the same as in the one described, except that in place of a 
gull's image suspended in the middle of the roof there was a rude 
wooden image of a nurn wrapiied in the skin of an eider duck. 

I was informed here that the bladders were kept in the kashim for 
seventeen days, with a different set of ceremouies for each day. 

Two days after leaving Kushunuk, at the end of the festival, 1 
arrived at the large village of Ivaialigamnt, situated in the same dis- 
trict, and learned that the bladders liad ou that morning been put into 
a small lake near by. In front of the kashim stood a row of four kaiak 
jiaddles, their blades planted in the snow, showing that at least some 
of the observances here were identical with those at Kushuiuik. 

When I entered the kashim and began to stamp the snow from my 
feet a chorus of eider duck sounds was raised by the iruMi, showiug 
that a loud noise was tabooed here also. On noticing this I at once 
ceased and went to one side of the room to sit down, when one of the 
old men came over and brushed the snow from my fin- clothing, at the 
same time pointing to an inriated sealskin that hung over my head, 
and asked me to change to another part of the room. 

These people seeme<l much more strict in their observances than those 
at Kushunuk, to judge by the excessive caution used to avoi.l making 



3'.»2 THK EiiKIMO ABOrr UKKING STKAIT mi axs. I8 

iiotAc. Any i»li;;bt uoim- Hcrvt-il to rai>e a few fiilLT-iIiu-k iioCe*. ami 
one© when it il'<K straxttl in every une in the kii«liini {.'nuitetl vucifer- 
oiiHly, Ht which the iln;; hlunk out alia»heil. 

No Work was |Mriiiitteil here (hirin;: tliis day, and no one wa> i»er 
niitted to leave the villa;;)- until alter all iiad taken a bath <in the mid 
lii;;hf loll'iwin;;. Shouhl this rule he broken they believeil that some 
onr wiiuld Hurrly dn- liefore another feast. 

< Ml a December al'iernonti in 1S78 I arrived at Chirukhlufruniut, n 
\illa(,'<- near the 'N'nkon, south of Amireivsky. while the i)eo|ile were 
cilebratini,' tlie bladtler feast. They were ;;athered in the kashim 
siiiuintr I" the beating of three drums. tw<i of which were vt-ry large 
and the other of ordinary si/e. The larfie drums were about two and 
a hair feet in dminr'ter and covered with tanned reindeer skin. The 
hont,'s wi-re sniif in very slow time ami were des(Tii)tive of the wai^ 
and exploits of their fathers in ancient times. 

The only decorations in the kashim consisted of a Imndlc of wild 
]iarsni|i stalks fastent-tl horizontally to the rear end of the room by 
means of I wo wooden iie;,'s, and layers of these stalks about six feet long 
which were fastened to the wall like screens on the sides of the room. 

The drumndn;: and songs were repeated three times during the fol 
lowing afternoon. One of the old men told me that, as they lived lar 
from the seacoast. they had killed no seals nor walrus, so had no 
bladilers to put in the water, conseiiuently they did not Inirn the stalks 
of the wild paisnips but put them in the kashim to nmke oflerings to 
them. At the end of the feast the stalks are laid on the frozen surface 
of a snuili ri\iT near by. where they remain until carried away by the 
ice in spring. 

Here, as ill other villages, no work of any kind was ]iermitted duripg 
the festival, and no wood must be cut with an iron ax, but when ab.so- 
liilc-Iy nec( ssary bone wedges may be used for splitting lirewood. At 
Kiishiinnk they used for this pui'iiose a large pick, consisting of a 
wooden handle with a walrus tusk for the point, the use of iron axes 
being tabooed there as elsewhere in this region during the continuance 
of iliis fcsti\al. All loud noises are also forbidden, even out of doors. 

.Vt a little village on the Yukon near Amireivsky, on danuary 17, 
is^l, 1 found the ).eoi)le performing their linal dance at the dose of the 
bladder feast. This dale is a month later than is customary. 

The bladders used in this festival are supposed toc-oiitain the shades 
or iiiiiiiii of the slain animals. After an animal is killed the hunter 
carefully removes and jucserves the bladder until the time ai>proaches 
for the festival. When this tinu- arrives songs are sung and the bladder 
is inllated and hung in the kashim: the shade of the animal to which 
the bhidder biloiiged is supposed to remain with it and to exist in the 
inllated bl.idder when it is hung in llie ka.shim. 

The feast is ;;iven for the puriio.se of pleasing and amusing the shaihs 
anil thus projiitiating them, alter which the bladders are taken to a 



"•■"'■''"^ MASKS AM) MAMvKTTKS 393 

l^ole in the ice ami, aCor 1..,,.^ .,,...,....1, a.o thrust into tlu- wat.-r ,„„i.., 
the ice so .hat th. sluMh- n.ay unmu to its ,,n>„..r .\,..u.M. Tho shuh. 
i.s supposed to swim far out to sea an.l there to enter the ho.li.-s of 
unboru animals of their kin.l, thus i.e.-on.ins- reiMearnat...! an.) ren.ler 
in- game more plentiful than it would be otherwise. If ih,. shades -.ro 
pleased with the iiumner in wliich they have been treated by the 
hunter who killed the aninu.l they oeenpied, it is said th.'v will not be 
afraid when they meet him in tlH-ir m-w form and will |„".n„ii him to 
approach and kill them a.^ain without trouble. 

Several of the St Michael Hskimo told n,.. that th.-v kti.-w this rein- 
carnation to be true, as a man livinjj at a vilhi-c on "the ontrr side of 
the island killed a seal a few years a^o which had the same mark on its 
bladder that he had ])ut on the bladders at the festival the i)revions 
year. Jt should l)e noted that each hunter i)uts his totem mark or 
other personal si;.;ii in red or black paint upon his bladders so that 
tliey may be distinguished Irom those of other hunters. The aromatic 
smoke and red tlames of the resinous stalks of the wild parsnip are 
thought to lie very pleasing to the shades of the animals whose bladders 
are treated with them, and at the same time the tlame drives away any 
uncleanness and unfavorable inlluence that may be jnesent. 

During the continuance of this festival at St Michael, and at other 
places where it is observed, no iimn or large boy sleei)s away from the 
kashim and the men keep rigidly apart from the wtnuen. If a man 
breaks this rule it is said he will have no success as a seal hunter. On 
this account the men avoid as mm h as i)ossible going into their own or 
any other house, for fear of becoming unclean. They bathe t wicc a day. 
morning and evening, in the kashim, but their food and water are 
brought to them as usual by the women. 

]S'o females who have reached pubertj' are permitted near or under 
the bladders while they hang in the kashim. as they are said to be 
unclean and might ofl'end the shades. Young, immature giils. how- 
ever, may go about them as freely as the boys. 

During tbe continuance of this festival it is a necessary observance 
that the kashim shall never be left entirely vacant. An old man at St 
Michael told me that during one of these festivals at Pastolik the men 
forgot this and went to an adjacent kashim for a short time. Suddenly 
one of them remembereil that their kashim had been left vacant ami 
hurried back in time to hear the shades in the bladders talking to one 
another. One end of the line to which they were hung had become 
untied and the bladders were said to have moved near the dooi'way 
rcadv to leave, the shades being angry at tljcii- neglect. 



MASKS AM) :\i.vsKr/rii:s 

Masks were found in use among the Eskimo from Kotzebuo sound 
to the mouth of the Kuskokwim, but their use attains the greatest 
development in the country along the lower Yuk<in and thenc- south- 



394 TIIK K-KIM.' AltolT llEKIMi STRAIT I-m. ajw. It 

w.inl rliroii;;li tin- iiitiTUifiliato toimtry to tlie KoKkukvriiii. Formerly 
tlif llHkiiiio of Norton soitiul iimmI masks much more tliaii at )>rcM-iit. 

tilt' iiilliieiii t' wliiti* iiH-ii liaviiij; roiisiilcralily mixlilied tlieir iile^is anil 

catlM-tl HoMK- of (III- anrii-iit ru^toms to biM-onii- mori.- or loss obstjlctv. 

On till- rivers iiaiiiiMl. ami c-iMi-lally on tin- little-visiteil marshy plain 
iMnt; In'twiTii tin- lowtT <-ours»'» of thes*- stn-anis, mask fi-stivals \v«'re 
oli«i<rviil with all tlii-ir aiii-icnt elaboration and strii-tness of ceremony 
iliiiiii;: my ivsidi-nci- at St .Michael, rnfortiinately, none of my Jour- 
n«-ys wiTi' mailc at a lime xvlien these lestivals were liein^;^ hehl. but in 
variiiiiH villages I saw men at work itrepariiij; inuHks for approaehin^ 
len-moiiifs. The si;,'nilicaiice of the masks ilescribo<l is jjiven from 
inl'orniation obtaiin-il ilireclly from the I-^skimo. unless otberwi.se stated. 

In coiiiiei-tioii witli the description of these I'liriously carved and 
ornamented objects some jirefatory remarks are neces.sary. Shamans 
make masks re|tresentinK K'"tesi|iie faces of sniM-rnatural beiiiKs which 
they i-iaiiii to have seen. These maj- be i/i/-//. which are the spirits of 
the elements, of places, and of inanimate tliin;;s in ;;eneral: the tim- 
ijhiit, or wandering; t;enii, or the shades of people anil animals. The 
tirst -named are seen in lonely jdaces, on the ]>]aiiis and monntaiiis or 
at sea. and more rarely about the villafjes, by the clairvoyant vision of 
the shamans. They are usually invisible to common eyes, but some- 
times render tliemselves visible to the jieople for various iiurjioses, 

.Many of tiiem, esi)ecially anion;^ the tunyhiit, are of evil character, 
briiifiin;; sickness and misfortune upon people from mere wantonness 
or tor some fancied injury. The ICskiino l>elieve that everything, ani- 
mate or inanimate, is pos.sesseil of a shade, having .semihuman form 
and features, enjoying more or less freedom of motion: the shamans 
give form to their ideas «d' them in masks, as well as of others which 
they claim inhabit the moon and the sky-land. In their daily life, if 
the ]H-o|ile witness .some strange iK:currence, are curiously allected, or 
have a remarkable adventure, ^luring which they seem to be intlnenced 
or aided in a sii]iernatiiral manner, the shamans interpret the meaning 
and ijesi-ribe the appiarance of the being that exerti'd its jiower. 

('iirioiis mythological beasts are also said to inhabit both land and 
sea, but to become visible only on special occasions. These ideas fur- 
nish niaierial upon wliicii their fancy works, conjuring up strange forms 
that are usually modifications of known creatures. It is also believed 
that in early days all animate beings had a dual existence, becoming at 
will either like man or the animal forms they now wear. In those early 
ila>s there wcie but few people; if an animal wished to assume its 
human form, the forearm, wing, or other limb was raised and pushed up 
the mu//le or beak as if it were a mask, and the creature became man- 
like in form and features. This idea is still held, and it is believed that 
maiiN animals now jmssess this power. The manlike form thus appear- 
inu is railed the imtit and is supposed to represent the thinking jiart of 
the creature, and at death becomus its shade. 



NELS"^] MASKS AMI MASK I'KSTIVAl.s 3|)-, 

Sbamaus are believed to have th.. power of seein- throu-h the 
animal mask to the manlike features behind. The ideas held on this 
subject are well illustrated in the Itaveu le-ends. where the chan-es 
are made repeatedly from one form to anotiier. 

Masks may also represent totemic animals, and the wearers during 
the festivals are believed actually to become the creature represented or 
at least to be endowed with its spiritual essence. Some of the masks 
of the lower Yukon and the adjacent territory to the Kuskokwim are 
made with double faces. This is done by having the mu/zle of the 
animal titted over and concealing the face of the imia below, the outer 
mask being held in iilace by jiegs so arranged that it c;>n be removed 
quickly at a certain time in the ceremony, thus symbolizing the trans- 
formation. 

Another style of mask from the lower Kuskokwim has the under face 
concealed by a small hinged door on each side, which opens out at tlie 
jiroper time in a ceremony, indicating the metamori)hosis. When tiie 
mask represents a totemic animal, the wearer needs no double face, 
since he represents iu jierson the shaile of the totemic animal. 

^^'hen worn in anj' ceremonial, either as a totem mask or as represent- 
ing the shade, i/n-a or tumihiik, the wearer is believed to become mysie- 
riously and unconsciously imbued with the spirit of the being which his 
mask represents, just as the namesakes are entered into and ])ossessed 
by the shades at certain ])arts of the Festival to the Dead. 

In connection with the collection of masks obtained it is interesting 
that a number of thera have wooden models of thunibless hands 
attached to tbeir sides, the palms of the hands being pierced with large, 
circular boles; these are usually tbnnd on masks representing birds, 
beasts, and spirits, having some connection with making game more or 
less plentiful. I am inclined to think that the holes in tiie iialms indi- 
cate that the being will not hold the game, but will let it pass through 
to the earth. 

:Many of the masks from this region are very complicated, having 
numerous appendages of feathers aiul carved wood; these either rep- 
resent limbs or are symbolic. The masks are also ])ainted to reiiresent 
features or ideas connected with tlie mythology of the being. 

:\Ia.sk festivals are usually held as a species of thanksgiving ;o tlie 
shades and powers of earth, air, and water for giving the hunters suc- 
cess. The inuas or shades of the powers and creatures of the earth 
are represented that they may be propitmted, thus insuring further 
success. Fnfortnnately, [ failed to secure the data by which the entire 
significance of customs and beliefs connected with masks can be solved 
satisfactorily. I trust, however, that the present notes, with the expla- 
nations and descriptions of the masks, may serve as a foundatmn lor 
more successful study of these subjects in the future; the field is now 
open, but iu a few years the customs of this people will be so modi- 
tied that It will be ditticult to obtain reliable data. N\ hen th.. l.skimo 



li'Jti TIIK. K.SKIMo AIIULT llKUINO .-TKAIT ith axx. U 

bt>t»(fii Yukon mill Ku.HWuUwiiii riv«T'< l»f«onie sosopliistiiate*! byoon 
tact with wbit«- iiiiMi tliat mask IfHlivals fall iiitu disuse, it will bf but 
a Hliorl tiiiio until all tin* wealth of mytlioloKieal ("aucy counwtt-d with 
tht'Ui will iKTOtiii- a walfil Ixxik. • 

AiiM>n^' till' very laip- nuiiibtT of these objects obtaiueil some of the 
mure iiitenMtiiij; have bieii ilmseii lor de.sci iptioii ami illustratiou, fjiv 
iiij; w ith eai'li, so far as iM»>j*iliIe, its sij^nilieaiue. Thiir w(in«lerful vari 
ety and loniidexily of ornamentatioM, whieli is symbolical throughout, 
evinces a lively fancy in the makers. 

I'itrure '2, plate \<V, shows a lonfr, llat, jKjar-shape mask from Salxit- 
nisky on the lower Yukon, excavated behind and rather convex in iVout; 
it measures <i by '.• inches, and represents the fejitures of a black bear. 
t)n one side, covcriu}; the area of the ri;;ht eye and cheek, is a rountl, 
human face overhung; by live tufts of human hair, which represents the 
iiii«i of the bear. The main surface of this mask is jiainlcd white. 
bordere«l by re<l, the muz/Ie of the bear and border of the human face 
being of the same color: the remainder of the face is black. From the 
left corner of the mouth depends a small, red, wooden appendage repre- 
senting the lower half of the tongue, which is attached to the interior 
of the mouth by a small willow splint or jieg .so that it can move freely. 
About the sides and upper bordei' of the mask are nine holes where 
large feathers wc-re inserted upright. 

Another mask from the same locality, and very miuh like the pre 
ceding, represents a red bear and has a human face on the right side, 
painted reil: the ears are indicated by small. padtUe shape, llattened 
sticks lashed to sjilit ipiills. which are fastened to the sides of the mask 
by w<M)den plugs, it is oh inches broail by S inches long. 

The collection contains another mask of tin- same character repre 
senting a n-d bear, but it is a little larger than either of those descril>ed. 
It is from ."starikwikhpak, on the lower Yukon. 

The mask shown in ligure I, i>late xrv, is from t'a]>e Vancouvt-r. It 
is an oval i-epresentation of a semihuman face, a little over s inches 
high by .">'^ wide, roundeil in front and slightly excavatetl behiml. This 
is a grotesijue nmak, portraying the features of a tiiiuiluik. The right eye 
is )iromineiit and rounded to the same si/.e and shape a.s the mouth; the 
lelt eye is a crescenfic opening about two inches long with the corners 
turned down and near the upper btudcr of an oval, llattened area on 
the- face, .lust above the mouth on the inside is fastened, by means 
"f a peg, a tuft of long reindeer hair, which extends down ami out of 
the mouth ami hangs over the chin; there are no nostrils. A large 
feathi'r tipped with small, downy i)lumes extends out from each side 
of the forehead, and another from the top. The border of this mask 
has a narrow, red biind around the top ami sides, eiuling opposite* the 
mouth: the llattened space extending from the crescent-shape eye 
downward on thecheek is retl, coarsely spotted with white; the remaiu- 
der of tlie face is white. 




MASKS ah.jUI uni.-mjuhth 



••"^'■^™i MASKS 397 

Figure 1, plate xcv, represents a small, flat, roniulod mask .V{ 1,v Vi 
mcues, from Sabotnisky, oi. the lower Yukon. It is shallowly exci 
vated, and is pierced lor the eyes and inoutb; the ri-ht eye "is hoi'i 
zontally oblong-, the left is round. The nioi.tli is represented by two 
flattened, oval oi,enings, inclined toward the center, which is occupied 
by a rudely carved imitation of an owl's beak, tastened on by means of 
a square pin fitted into an orilice in tlie mask. The sides of the face 
and forehead, with a line descending between tlie eyes to the beak, are 
green; an area aliout eacli eye and covering tlie cheeks is wliite, 
.sjMtted with red. The beak is not painted, except the red along tiie 
grooves marking the gape; the lower sides of the faee and the tmtire 
Chin are black. Three (piill leathers tipi)ed with downy phinies are 
inserted iu the forehead. This figure rejjresents the iiiiut of the sliort- 
ear owl. 

Figure 3, plate xcv, from the tundra soutli of the Yukon mouth, is a 
well-carved mask representing a human faee, 7^ inches long by '>)> wide, 
oval iu front and deeply concave behind. The features are well carved 
and smoothly rounded. About the border are set eight wooden pegs, 
with the ends split for holding a strip of deerskin with outstanding 
hair to represent the fur hood worn by the I^skimo in winter. It is one 
of the most carefully modeled of any mask obtained, and is one of the 
few which represents a human face without distortion of some kind. 
The eyes and mouth are jiierced, and a large globular labret is rep- 
resented at each corner of the mouth, fastened in place by a wooden 
pin. The entire fticc is i)ainted Indian red, with the goatee, mustache, 
eyebrows, and upper eyelashes black. 

Extending over the forehead and down each side of the face is a long, 
black line with ray-like black markings projecting backward from it; 
on each side of the chin this black line ends in the head and fore-feet 
of the alligator-like animal known as ixdntiijuk. A disk-like jieiidant 
with two concentric circles and a spot in the center is drawn in black 
on the forehead, and is connected with the body of the jHilraiiiuk, 
where it crosses the brow, by black cross-lines. 

Plate xcvi rt, from Gape Homanzof, is a very large mask, measuring 
12 by 22 inches and (! inches in depth, carved from a single piece of 
wood, and is supposed to represent the sea parrot {Lunda cirrliata). 
The open mouth of the bird covers over half the surface, and the 
points of the mandibles project free from the face. In the open mouth 
is represented the supposed features of the bird's inim. The eyes 
are narrow and are set obliquely above two widely separated, round 
nostrils and a broad, semilunar mouth with the corners depressed. 
Around the border of the mouth of the bird, anil thus bordering the 
inclosed face, are small wooden pegs half an inch in length to represent 
teeth. Ou the forehead of the mask, near the base and upper imrtion 
of the beak, are carved the eyes of the bird. Surrounding the outer 
border of the mask, and held out from it half to thive-ipiarteis ot an 



3LtS IIIK KSKIMfJ AllOL'T UEBING STICAIT ttu.xyxli 

inch l>y wikmIi-m |h-ch, is a Ihm*]) u( splints. The interior of tlie mask is 
roughly i\raviit«'<l, witli a iiroji-ctiuj; lujf «n each side to jireveut it 
fmni sliiiiniit; siilewist' <m tin- face, while hi-lo\v anutlier lujf serves as 
ii chin rest tnr the wearer. The >;eneral siirlaee of the front of the mask 
if* paiiiteil a ilnll lilne. eoarsely s|H»tteil with white; the eyes have white 
|iU|iilNHn<l n-tl irules; the Keak of the bird is red, ol)lit|uely stri|>ed with 
w liiti-. and the sides of its month are paintetl red. The face of the iiiun 
if white, the interior of the nostrils reii.each ha\ in>r four black, ray like 
lines drawn from its lH)rder aL>out an incii Ujiward on the side of the 
face. 

riate \ryilj. from ('a|H- Koman/of, south of the Vnkon mouth, is a 
ver.\ \:\Ti;v mask ationt .'50 imhes hi;;h by 10 inches wide. It is broa«lly 
oval lielow and tapers U|> into a Ion;: projec-tioii or neck above, wliirh 
is formed of a separate jiit ce litied npon the body of the mask with 
three ptH"*< ins«'rt«d from liehind. attaching; a projertinjj shonhler to 
tlie main pait. On the extreme npper tip is a small lifjine of a hniuan 
head. .Surronndin;; the nia>k on all sides, and held at a short distance 
from it by lashin;;s of willow i-of)t. is a hooji made of two thin, narrow- 
splints. A series of split i>e;,'s around the border liohN in ]>osition a 
narrow strip <d" reindeer skin, bearintr long, n|istandiiit; hair>. which 
reaches np a little over Inilf way on the neck or liandle like projection, 
and there its ends are inserted in the wooil. 

The lower portion or lio<ly of the mask rejiresents two faces. The 
lower, which is much the lar;;er and occupies at least two-thirds of the 
entire surface, is a ;,'rotesfjuc semihumaii face, havinf; a liu;re, creswntic 
month with upturned corners. There are two large, round nostrils in a 
broad, sjireading. rounded nose, and twocresceutic eyes with upturned 
coriu-rs, over which hang the l>road, heavy eyebrows, which project an 
inch and a half an<l sweep down with a crescentic curve over e^udi eye, 
meeting at an angle on the ba.se of the nose two im-hes above their 
lower border. The ujiper jiortioii of the mask is o<-cupied by the 
rounded face of some animal, apparently inten<U-d to re|>re.>ient a seal. 
which has a bulging brow and rounded, liat nose with ni>strils <leei)ly 
incised, and a wide, oval mouth, with four .stpiare teeth cut in relief on 
the lower jaw. The eyes arc rounded and j)ierced, with a notch exteinl- 
ing ilownward at the inner corner. The chin of this face rests on the 
forehead of the huge lower one. The handle like projection extends 
njiward from the top of the last ilescribcd heatl. and is over 11.' inches 
high; it is tiat behind, but r:ither ov:d on the sides, and has along its 
front a deep, rounded groove cxteiiiling the entii'e length to the liea<l 
at the fo]i; along each side is a row of wooden i>egs to represent teeth. 
'I'he lieail (rapping this ]iroiection is about -h inches high :ind - in<-lie8 
broad, representing ordinary human features; it is surrounded on the 
edges by a groove in which is a band of reindeer skin with the hair 
projecting like a halo. The huge lower face is mainly white, the 
iniinth is red; the line about the upjier lip, representing ;i mustache, is 



.,v.M.yl^;■:^.... 







.^^ 
.t^-^ 






■.';|\r|n;i|fTi:!;i^rftr;'(lf;it|i:-)|,t!lT!:f';T:^' 



?; '\ 




"^"^^iiiiii*^ 



mmmiMMi^. 



black, aud tbe circle about each imsliil is „f (l„. s;„„e ,.„1,„- iho 
interior of the nostrils and tlio-lino fojlowino- the outline of tl>." ..y,. 
brows are bluish slate color. Tlie animal lace resting i.bove thi. is ,'lso 
colored bluish slate, with the nx.utli imiute.l red. The front of ih.' iuo 
jectiou above is white, the groove bein- red, as is also the entire face 
ot the small head at the to|>; the ho.,,, surroundin- the border of the 
mask IS also red. The meaning of this mask is unknown, but I would 
call attention to its general simihirity ti. the composite masks and 
carvings made among the Tlinket of southern Alaska. 

The mask (number ;iS,S,-)(i) IVoiu iSabotnisky is ,si l,y () iii,.i„.s. aud rep. 
resents a grotes(|ue liumau countenance. It is ov;il and deeply exca- 
vated behind, t'pon the sides are curved ridges in relief to represent 
ears; the nose is a rounded, triangular i)iece fnstened by two wooden 
l)egs; the eyes and mouth are ])ierced through the mask, the hitter 
being bordered by a row of reindeer teeth above and below. The face 
is i)ainted bright red aud bordered by a band of leindeer skin with 
long hair. It is one of the few masks ])r(»cnred that api)roaelies closely 
to an ordinary liuuuin countenance. Its siguihcance was not learned. 

Plate xcraii shows a huge mask, (ait from a slab of wood, nearly 2 
feet high bj' 13 inches across, convex on its front and S(iuared in out- 
line, roughly excavated in the back with three projecting lugs for 
holding the mask in jjlace against the chin and the sides of the face. 
It represents a gigantic face, with large, rounded blocks of wood for 
labrets just below the corners of the crescentic mouth, .\bove these 
and joining the crescentic mouth on each side ])rojects a liat, paddle- 
like piece of wood representing a human hand aud arm, the former 
pierced by a large, round hole, dust back of these hands, and fast- 
ened up and dowu along the side of the nuisk but separated from it 
by about two inches, are two thin, flat strijis of wood about two and a 
half inches wide, held in place by pegs in the sides of the mask and 
in the arms. These stri[)s have feathers along their outer edges as 
ornaments, as has also the sipiared top of the mask. The mouth is 
very large, somewhat crescentic in shape, with the corners upturned 
aud exteudiug out along the arms, nearly to the wrists. The nose 
is large aud rouuded, with two large, round nostrils, and the eyes, 
like the nostrils, are pierced through the wood; the brow is very 
overhanging, and has a row of llat, oval, pointed wooden pegs along 
its edge to represent eyebrows. In the forehead is cut a s(piare hole 
a little over two and a half inches in diameter. T.elow the upper liji 
there is a row of square, tlat wooden pegs along its edge to indicate 
teeth, matching a similar set in the lower jaw; teeth, both upper and 
under, are also represented in the i)ortiou of the mouth extending along 
the arms. 

On the brow of the mask are the wooden images of live seals and 
two reindeer. The sides have a row of sijuared wooden pegs, repre- 
senting teeth, up aud down along its length above the arms, and another 



4uO THK i;sKIMO AllOLT ItERING STRAIT (cth aw. 1« 

wt aloii;; the iMirili-iiii;,' Hat strip nf \v«kkI parallel ti> the side of the 
iiia«k. tliiii repii'MMitiii;; n vertiral mouth on each Hide of the face. The 
iiiiii;,'<-"<«I' the ^eaN, reiiidet'r, lalirets, and arms, as well as the teeth and 
I'Xcliiiiw 4, are fantened to the main hotly of the mask liy wooden pejjs 
inseiteil in holes. Tin- inside of the mouths, on the sides of the head 
as Well a-) that in theiisu;d pi. ire. are painted red. as are also the insides 
of the hanils; the eliin is Idiiish; the l.ibrets are white, with blaek 
spots; the aruiri are hltn- below ami white above, with a blaek line 
drawn aloii;,' the u|>per border of the mouth. Joining; the mustache line 
of till- npperlipon the bodyof the mask. Overeach nostril isacurved 
black line to represent a depression; there is also a Inoad bla<k band 
across tin- region of the eyes from side to side, and a bonier f)f red 
extends alonjj the brow above the i)eKs. indicatin;; the eyebrows. This 
inn»;,'e represents the tuntjhi'ik <»r beinj; that controls the supply of game. 
It is usually rei)resented as living in the moon. The shamans coininonly 
make a pretense of going to him with olferiugs in order to bring game 
intotheirdistrictwhen thehunters have been uiisincessful for some time. 

Masks (dthis character are to<i heavy to be worn upon the face with- 
out adilitional snpi»ort, so the}' are ordinarily suspeinled from the roof 
of the kashiin l)y strong cords. The wearer stands behind with the 
mask l>ound about his heail, and wags it from side to side during the 
dance so as to produce tin- ordinary motion. I was told that in all the 
great mask festivals several of these huge objects were usually chus 
suspended from the root'. 

From the lower Ivuskokwim there is a <-ircidar mask, I.j inches in 
diameter, in the form of a round board with a human face in relief on its 
center in front, and excavated in the back. A hoop of splints surrounds 
the border of this mask,. joined to it below and held out from the sides 
elsewhere to a distance of from one to two inches by lashings. All 
aroun<l the sides and top of the border are set the white, secondary i|uill- 
feathi-rsof swans or gulls. .Vbove the forehead on each side is a ruilely 
carved head of a lish, and below on each side of the cheeks is the head 
of a .-eal, all of which are set into the nnisk by pegs in their bases and 
project Ibrward at right angles to the plane of face. Hetwecii these 
heads ami on the bonier of the board opposite the sides of the face are 
attached by pegs curious llat representations of tlnnnbless hands with 
holes in the palms. The mouth is large, wide, roumled at the corners, 
and set around with the teeth of some nuimmal. The nostrils ;ire large 
and rounded; the eyes are oval and set in obli(|uely with their near cor 
ners highest. The nn)ntli, nostrils, and eyes are jiierced through the 
Wood. The upper ]iortion of this mask is made from a separate ]iieee, 
which is neatly litti'd to the nniin part ami helil in place by rawhide 
lashings. The main color of the front of the mask is white; a baml of 
black cncindes the surface an inch or more outside the border r)f the 
face. The borders of the face in reliif are jmintcd a dull green; the 
inside of tiie montli is red, and a heavy ninstache and the depression 



.^ 



.^^ 



r^. 




MASKS 



over eacl. nostril are blaok. Tl,c re,„ai,Klor of the face is wl.ito- tl.o 
hands are red, as are also the two sealheaas; the lish-heads are .^e^!' 
Ihis mask represents the lace of a Uniqhal: 

A mask bearing- orio-inal nun.ber lir., tVo„, the eonn,rv south of, he 
Yukon mouth re,,resents a humun .io„,, wi,l, outstretehe.I a,„,s ;„„1 
le,us,bavM.s-a human ta.-ein relief on the front of the body. Theh.ul 
arms, and legs of this tioure are atta.'hed to the eentral part of ihe 
mask with wooden ])ins. A hoop fastened to the inside of the arms neir 
the elbows and to the k-s at the knees holds tiie liml)s in their out- 
stretched positnin. On each side of the face on the from nf the bo.lv 
is a thumbless hand cut from a llattened piece <.f wood. These are 
attached to the nmsk witli llexibh- po^s of wood. This mask, from the 
lower part of the body to the top of head, is It inches high ami nearly 
7 inches broad on the body. Its posterior surface is roughly concave, 
with a prqjectius- ledge of wocxl m^ar the lower border of excava- 
tion, to enable the wearer to seize it witli h.is teeth for the iiuri)ose of 
holding the mask more linniy in liosition. Around the body of the 
mask are inserted downy, white swan's feathers; the ontstietclied 
hands of the ligurc are thumbless, as are the hands on nearly all the 
masks collected in that region. The holes in the palms, which are 
usually made large and conspicuous, are indicated in this case by small, 
round punctures about one-tenth of an inch in diameter. The main 
color of the front of the mask, including the arsas, legs, and the iioop, 
is white. The ears on the head of tlie figure are represented by small, 
flat wooden pegs painted red; tlie mouth is also red. Tlie eyebi-ows, 
excavations for the eyes, mustache, and beard are indicated in black 
Iiaint, the eyebrows and mustache being represented by dots. The 
arms, between the shoulders and elbows, are surrounded by a black! 
band with a white spot in the middle, and the forearms and the hands- 
to the lingers are red; the ends of th<' lingers ar<' not i)aintc(l. 

The second pair of hands, mentioned as being on (nther side of the 
face in front of tlie body, are iiiiintcd like the arms. There is a black 
band around the thigh with a white spot in the center, and the lower 
legs and tlu^ feet are red, with a white spot on the inside of the calf, 
which corresponds to a similar si)ot on the inside of each wrist. The 
border around the face (-arved on tlui front of the body is red. witii white 
dots at regular intervals about the circle. The face itself is white, with 
eyebrows, snow-goggles, nostrils, a line over each nostril, mustache, 
and beard represented in black ; the lips are painted red. Tlie eyes and 
the mouth are i)ierced through. The exact sigiiilicance of this mask 
was not learned, but the face on tin; front of the body undoubtedly 
represents the supposed features of the inna of the being represented 
by the main tigure. 

A mask from the lower Kuskokwiiii (number (ML'.M). 10 by (!.} inches, 
is oval and deeply excavated, with a convex front imitating a hair seal 
pierced by four almond-shape openings representing eyes and nostrils. 
IS ETII I'l! 



402 'llli; KSKI.Mi> All' 'IT llKKIX«i STICAIT Ictilam.. i« 

.hint 1k'1i>w tlii'Hi- tin- tliiii is i'lit :iway ami the caivcd. wfKxlcii licad is 
utiiK'iK'il I'V ^im•^v r<»nl>, ^"> iliat it may l>i' moved up iiiiil ilowu. ami 
l» r<.iiti"lle<l I'V a sim-w riinl pa.H.sjiijj tliroiij^li a hole from the rear of 
thi- mank 1>> itH atlaehm<ii( on thi- throat. The tlippers, )>olh Ix-fore 
iiinl lieliiml. are repre.seiit<-4l hv smull. jiaildle shape woixleii attach 
iiii'iilH fuhlem-)! to the )>o(ly with Hiiiall strips of whaU-hoiie. I'|m>ii 
e.ieli -iile of the eyes ami nostrils, \viii<h are ]>ier«e(l through the faee 
of the ma>k, are fastenetl small, wiii}; like ilours, ns if to elose ami 
cover the face, I tut they are tit-il so as to remain permanently open. 
On each of these doors is painted in black the image of a white nhale, 
and a lilack line is diawii thron;;h the eyes tin the face. A stout 
splint hiM)p is attathed at the shouhhrs on either side by womleii 
splintx, and surrounds the entire bolder of the mask, excejit in front. 
The lace and the interior of the doors are white, with the exception 
of the black ligures mentioned; also all of the scaTs head, except 
the crown and iiajie, which, with the back of the li;;ure forming the 
front ol the mask, aie painted slate color with white si»ots. This ligure 
is intended to represent a seal, the concealed face <»ii its back beiug 
the ("nidi. 

I'igure 1, plate xrviit, is a long, slender mask representing the head. 
iie<-k, and beak of a sand hill crane ((Inix cnnadtniiix}. It is 3(i inches 
long, with the head and beak aixiut -I inches in length, and is rudely 
caiM-d, having the top of the iiird's head excavated for a small lamp, 
with a hole in fiont on each side, representing the eyes for the light 
U> shine through. On the beak are a few wooden pegs to indicate 
teeth. an<l the slender neck extends down to the breast of the bird 
where the wood takes a roughly oval form on which is a nulely shajied 
human face, with the chin narrow and long drawn down. This face is 
about ■"•A inches broad and slightly and roughly excavated behind. The 
interior of the bird's mouth and the area around the eyes and ears, the 
sides of the neck, as well as the space about the eyes, nostril.;, and interior 
ol the mouth of the human faie at the lower portion are painted reil. 
This mask was said to represent the iiiiirt of the crane. The maker was 
a shaman, who claimed that once, when he was alone upon the tundra, 
he saw a sand hill cram- standing at a distance looking at him; as he 
ap|iroached. the feathers on the binl's breast jtarted, revealing the faee 
tif the Itird's iiiiiii, ;is shown in the c;irving. 

I''iguie 'J. plate xcviii, from the lower Kuskokwim, is a long, narrow, 
tlatteiied mask. IIA by lA inches, representing an extremely elongated 
human eountcnance with the liicedi\idcd across the middle, Just aliove 
the lower point of the nose, :ind hiiigei! together with rawhide cord so 
as to mo\e upon itself. The eyes and the month are crescentie with 
down turned corners; the nose is long and slender with two rounded 

nostrils pierced through the w 1 ami having a dumbbell sha|ie ]iend' 

ant on the nose ring. On tlie middle of the lower lip is a |)ecidiarly 
shapeil lalirci made of a c.irved wooden tiap, indicating. tVoin the .-tyle 



MASKS 4Q3 

Of Nvearing tl.is orna.net.t, that the, fa,.,. ,v,,. ,>s,M,te,l is that ,.f a w„„.a„ 
Ihe upper lialf „f th(. eomitena.ic' is paiutcl white an,l the lower \n\f 
bluish slate e,il,.r. Surn.un.lin- tlie upper half, at intervals of ab,iut 
two inches, are insert,',! white swan teathe.s. The posterior surta,.e is 
laulely excavated. The incaniii.a; of tiiis mask is not known 

Figure 3, plate Xf'viii, fr,)m Sahotnisky, ,)n the lower Yukon is •, 
grotesriue human face with the toreheail ilrawn out I,, the rear as a 
long, skillet-like haiuUe. This mask is about 20 in.'hes in length, of 
which the handle or projecfion baeli of the forehead rei)resents'tiiree- 
fourths. The inner side is shalh.wly excavated. The n,).se is very 
.short and rudely carved, aiul is jihu'cd s,) far up between the eyes as 
to leave a very broad, tlattened space tor the upi)er lip and cheeks. 

Below this is a broad, cres,:ent shape nunith with ,'oiners iii)turned 
and long, widely spa,XHl teeth, r,.presented by wo,)den pegs. Com- 
meucing just at the base of the nose, above tlie eyes, and exti'iidiug 
back along the top of the extension to its extreme jiostcrior end is a 
deep groove re])resenting a mouth bordered by widely spaced wooden 
pegs for teeth. Along each side of this are set tw,) feathers. The 
entire front and upper surface of this mask is jjainted red, with the 
face between the mouth and the eyes splashed with blood. This repre- 
sents s,)me mythical being, but its exact signitication was not learned. 

Figure '■>, plate xcix, from Paimut, on the lower Yukon, is .Si by 7^ 
inches. This is a thin, fattened, rounded mask representing a gro- 
tesfpie semihuman countenance. It has one round eye in the forehead, 
one in the proper place on the left side, and aii,)ther in the center of the 
right cheek. Still another eye, of crescentic shape, is sitnat,',! just 
above the round one on the right side. The nose is narrow at the top, 
curving down to the right and ending in a broad point. The m,)iith is 
wide, slit like, and pierced in two parts, the narrow, slit like i)art on 
the left being se|)arated irom the rouiul, eyeh,)lelike opening on the 
right corner by a narrow, closed space. Surrounding the entiie border 
of the mouth are wooden ])egs to represent teeth. The eyebrow above 
the crescentic eye and a band around the border of the mask, as well 
as the month and the chin, are red. The Ibrehea,! and the top of the 
n,)se are dull green, and the remainder of the face is white. AVhen in 
use the mask had ,|nill feathers inserted around the edge. This ri'p- 
resents the countenance of a tuiujluUc and is from the extreme upjicr 
border of the Eskimo territory along the Yukon. 

Figure li, plate 'XCix, from Sabotnisky, ,)n the lower Yukon, is a thin, 
tiattened mask, with the posterior side slightly excavated, represent- 
ing a rude, semihuman lace, In the center of the face is a rounded 
hole for the mouth, with two narrow, slit like eyeholes above. Sur- 
rounding the mouth, between it and the border of tlie mask, are four 
broad, concentric grooves. The interior ,.f the mouth ami a line around 
the border of the mask are red, the rest is ])aintcd whit,'. Tliis mask 
also represents the features of a tuii</ltt(k. 



.Jn-l fill; EHKIMO AlliHT llKIJINi; strait (urn *>> a 

rimiro 4, plate \< l\. Inmi Sal«>iiiisKy, is SA inches loii;: tiy *'>\ iiitlicn 

Ml.!. li I, a il.itlriii'il, i.minliMl iiia.sk, Kli{,'litly excavated bcliiiul. with 

. mil. Ill r.Ki- on the front. The nose is very sliort, leaviiiji 

.> .umI I'hei'k ill one Inoatl ]thuie; the month is w i<h; and 

ilitiiriietl roriiers. .Siirrniiiuliuu the toreheail from the 

. I . nil- is a haiul of deerskin witli the hair ii|istaiidiiig. 

I I iihertlnek and lioin the middle of tlie liireliead extend short 

|.ii..s ol' wh.ilebone. havin;,' attarhed to their onter ends slender, 
wimmI.ii. iieiiiil liki- apiieinlajres aboni live inches hjiig, which move 
uilh the motions of the dancer. StrniiK aloii;; tiie forehead above the 
blows are small strips of parchment which are held in place by pegs 
insertetl in the w.iod and han;,' down over the eye.s. The entire face 
IS painted ;:ieen and spotted coarsely with iliill brown piRinent; the 
sinks on the ends of Hie w lialelioiie are red. Like preceding masks 
this represents the face of a IiiiujIk'iU. 

Vv^mi- I, plate Xi I\, is a thin. Ilatteiied mask, nieasuring s by TtS 
imlies, somewhat quadrate but rounded at the eorner.s. The month is 
cre.sreiitic, with till) corners turned down, and two round eyeholes 
pierce the front. .Iiist above the mouth is set a carved attachment 
represeiiling the top of the head ;ind upper iiianilible of a bird. A 
wooden pe;; inserted below the mouth indicates the lower maiiilible. 
I'lHiii each side of the face is attached a long, iiarrow, llat striji, evi- 
dciilly iiiteiidcd to indicate the doors, which open and dose on similar 
masks made in this district. Two crescentic incisions curving over the 
e\es represent eyebrows and are colored red. Surrounding the borders 
of the mask on each siile and above are inserted feathers of the horned 
owl. The main color of the lace, as well as the inside of the Haps upon 
each side is white. The bird's eves and beak are black, as are also a 
line across the eyebrows and cheeks, as well as the ligures of I he seal, 
walrus, killer whale, reindeer, wolf, and beaver, which are drawn upon 
the .sni lace of the Haps on each side. This face represents the iniiaui 
Some species of waterfowl, the name of whicii I did not learn: but from 
the drawings of the various game animals upon the llaps attached to 
till- sides, 1 jiidue that it w as used in festivals connected with obtaining 
siici ess ill the hunt, which I learned to be the case with similar masks 
in tlial regii>ii. 

I'i;;nie I, plate c, is a iiidely carved ligiireof the sea parrot [Mitrimm 
(i((7icii), 7A inches long by lA wide. This represents the upper half of 
the bird's body as it would apiiear when swimmiiig on the water. The 
head and iiecU arc made of a separate piece joined to the body by a 

r I pin. Ill the upturned beak is the wooden llgnie of ft walrus, the 

neck of which is made of clolli so as to form a loose joint and permit the 
head to tlap alioiil as the wearer of the mask dances. The mask is 
siiiioiinded by two successive hoops of splints held in place by being 
lashed to pe^s fastened in holes abniit tin' eil;:es. .lust in front of these 
pe;;s is attached a narrow strip of reindeer skin from which long hairs 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



- /"^"■^EENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. 







405 
project all around like a l,al,.. This is ,,01.1 i„ „.,sitio„ ,,v b,!,,. in..,,..! 
... the split eu.ls ,„■ pojrs pla,-e.l ana,,,.! ,1,.. honl,.,- ,.f ,i„. „!,:, 

lothe outer l,o,.p s,u.,.ou,Hli„. the ,„ask. „ne ..n ea,.], .Ul.^ul one 
o., the op, are attaehe,! .hnv Ion, ,p.i„ rea>he>s havin. tlu .n 
.emove, o,. o.u, s,.le an,l with a tuft of ,i..w„, leathers de.l to h^^ 

ends. ll'el>H■.s^v,,,,sare represented by s,nall.nat.son,ewl.atpa,hIle" 
shape pieces, wh.,.], a.e fastened to th. shouldersof ,i,e i.na.e wiU, ,l..,i. 
ble pieces of root inserted in holes, enabling the «-ings to play as the 
wea.-er n.oved. Just ba,k of ,h..se, one ,.n each side, are rudHv cut 
representatio.is of a i,air of (iuunblcss hands with the fingers f.ve and 
the palms pierced by a lar-e, round hole. I'.ack of these hands are 
two paddle shape attaehnu-nts of wo.id, ivpresenting the bird's feet 
also tasteued to the body with flexible pieces of root. At the ..oslcrior 
end tln-ee Ion,, slendei, j.addle shai.e strips a.-e fastend in II,.. same 
niainier to rei)reseiit the bii'd's tail. 

In the middle of the bir.rs back, (..•.•upyin, about ..ne half tli.- spa.^e 
is a well-carvcd .semilmrnan face, sni,pnse.l to r.^pres.-nt the ii,mi of th," 
bird. This face has the eyes pierced through the mask; ihe in.)nth is 
leprcsented as open, with the t.'eth thrown in relief by incise.l cr.iss 
lines. The walrus, binPs beak and feet, the pierced han.ls on the sides 
with the exception of the tips of the fingers, the hoops encircling the 
mask, and the border of the face on the bird's ba.-k,are jmiiitcd re.l. as 
well as the outlines of the mouth and the teeth. The bird's wings, la-ek 
back, and tailfeatheis are dull blue. The bird's lace and the pupil of 
the eye a le white and the iris black, the fa.e .m th.. bir.rs back is 
whit.' with black dots to represent the niiista.die, l)eard, and eyel)r.)\vs. 
The .l('i)ression Just above the nostrils is in.licate.l in bla.'k, as is also a 
rci)resentatioii of snow-goggles drawn across th.' lycs. 

Figure 2, plate c, fr.)ni Cape Ivomanzof, south of Die mouth of th.' 
Vuk.)ii. is a mask by .")>, inches, repi'esenting a guill.'iiDt swimming 
on the surface of the water. The head an.l neck are .■arve.l from a 
separate piece, wddch is fastened to the body by a ])eg. The wings are 
indicated by thin, flipperdike pieces. if wood attach.'.! by tiexible jiieces 
of ro.)t, and at one time the tail was represente.l by similar appendages 
which have bee.i broken off a.i.l lost. On the lia.k of this tignre is 
carved in relief a curious, hastat.' shape c.>untenanc(>. with the sharp 
])oint near the base .)f the bir.Ps n.'cl;. Xeai' the .'enter of the has.- of 
this hastate shaj)e area on the bird's rump a single r.iun.i hole pierces 
the wood and repi'esents an eye. l!el.)w this are pla.'c.l tw.) olilii|iicly- 
set, .ival nostrils and a ciesi'entshape inonth with th.' .'orn.'rs upturn. 'il. 

The upper part of the head, ne.-k, and b.)dy of the liir.l aic jpaintc'il 
dull bine, with large white spots. Tli.' lower jiart of the nek ami 
breast, with the surface of the llippei's and th.' fa.'c .ju Hi.' liack. are 
white. The white face is thinl\ s|iotte.l with Ma.'k <ui the si.les ami 
lower ])orti.)n and a single lihi.-k sjiot is .m the nod. II.' .if th.' wing. 
The interior of the nostrils is dull blue, and a br..a.lly cr.'scentic. while 



406 THE EsKIMk AlIOfT UKRINn STRAIT imiAjr.. l» 

ari'tt (iiirmiiiiilin;; tin- i-yi* i-< ItoniLTt-d by a iiinrow t>liii-k lim-. Tin- f;u-e 
mi till- liiH'k 111" tin- liinl r<-|»rt*M'nt.s its i(ii«i. 

i''i;:iiri- I, phkii- )', from lower Kiiskokwiin river, is llA iiielies loii}; liy 
.'• ihi'lir^ u nil-, ami ri-|iri-s(-iits a liiiinaii licnri* with oiitspreutl anus and 
li „ -. Tlic head, arms, ami If;;s are set in l>y Mpiared i»e{rs at their 
iiiiii-r |iorticin. whieh are inserted into holes in tliu Ixxly of tjie mask. 
'I'lie iViiiit of the body of tiiis niask has a {;rotesi|iie, Kemiliiimaii fare 
iu low reliel". shut in l>y little iliHirs whieh, hinged niKin either side, 
are made to oikmi outward, and are eontrolled by sinew cords. This 
ll;;iire is similar in (jeiieral ehara<'ter. exee|il the dcMirs. to a mask 
deseribe<l iVoiii the lower Yukon > number l'lt5). The inside <if the head 
is ileeply exrasated and the liaek of the body is shallowly eoneave. 
Aloii;; the inside of the hands and arms, as well as of tiie le^^s t<i the 
let t. extend t;r(M)ves painted red, bordered with bhiek. and set with 
pe};s to represent teeth. This indicates that the beiii}; represeiitttl was 
snppose<i. to be provided with months all aloiij; these ]iortion8of itj* lim- 
ine. The heail has two loiiiid eyes and a cresceiitic mouth with ]H)iiit8 
upturned, but no features in relief. The face on the front of the binly 
has the eyeholes, broadly spai'ed nostrils, and tlattened oval, nearly 
hori/.ontal mouth pierced throii;;h the mask; the month is provide*! 
with si|uai'ed, peg like projections to indicate teeth. The entire mask, 
when the doors are closed in front, with the exception of the month 
area alonj; the arms anil lej;s. is white. 

The inner surfaces of the doors, as well as the concealed face, are 
white with the exception of the outlined spectacle-like lit;ure eoverinjf 
tlieex'es, a line indicating the mustache, and the (igures of two rein- 
deer upon the inner side of one of the doors and the lijfures of two 
seals upon the inner side of the other doiu', which are black. A nai'- 
row St rip of deerskin with upstanding hair surrounds the head. Upon 
each shoulder, as well as along the sides, are inserted white leathers. 
The exact meaning of this lignre is not known, but the doors conceal- 
ing the face on the front of the body indicate that the concealed features 
are supposed to represent the inner countenance or i;ii/(( of the being. 
Other masks of this character were .seen in the region between Kiisko- 
kwiin and Yukon rivers, as well as on the lower Kuskokwim. and in one 
or more instances I saw masks having an outer or movable |)ortioii 
representing the inu/./le of some animal which could be removed at a 
certain time in the festival by a single motion of the hand. These 
were used to represent the metamorphosis tVoin the ordinary Ibiiii of 
the being indicated to that of its iituti. 

Figure .'{, plalv f, from I'astolik. at the northern border ol' the \nkon 
mouth, is a rather tiat. pear shape mask, l-'j inches long by 't.\ inches 
broail. It is made with a grotesipie. seinihiinian face on the rounded 
larger end and tapers liaik to an obtuse point at the top. On the left side 
of the face are two rudely carved representations of human legs fastened 
to the mask li\' c|uills. One ol' the>e is inserted near the corner of the 



_ EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 








MASKS 'NEARLy ONE-FOURTH) 



"■'='-""■1 MASKS 4,)y 

mouth and the other Just, above the top of the face. ()„ the opposite 
si.le are two slightly curve.l pieees of w„o.l of the same si/e as the U-s 
aud fastened to the mask in a similar n.anner. EmHi of these pieres 
has hve small. .•yliu.Irieal stieks an inch a.ul a half lonj,' fastened aloM^r 
Its lower border by sinew cords. Above these, on the si.k-s of the 
tapering summit of the mask, are two ,p,ills with .lowny featliers .,t 
their tips, and the extreme summit has in.serted in it a white swu. 
feather. The face of this mask is very grotes.pie, one eve being round 
and nearly m the middle of tlie upper portion, to the left of which is i 
cresceutic eye over two inches in length, the imints of the crescnt 
being toward the center of the face. Ik'twcen these eyes the ridge of 
the nose is represented as having a curve similar to the outer bwder 
of the cresceutic, eye, and the nostrils are j.laced vertically one above 
the other. The mouth is crescent-shape and twisted around under the 
large round eye, and in its left corner is a round opening. The teeth 
are represented by sipiartHl, wooden pegs, and the mouth and eyes are 
pierced through the mask. The face is white, splashed about the mouth 
with some dark licpiid, apparently blood. The two legs, as well as tiie 
oiiposite attachmeuts, are red, as is also a narrow border and the long, 
pointed extension above the face. The cylindrical jiendaiits are white, 
aud the ])rojeetioii above the face is painted black, with large white 
spots. This mask represents the features of a Intujhiih. 

Figure 1, plate Ci, from south of the lower Yuk(m, is VI by (1 inches, 
aud represents a salmon. It is a Hat, oval mask, liaviiig the head 
carved from a separate jjieco and fitted to the front end by a wooden 
peg. At the other end the tail is represented by two loose pieces on 
each side, fastened to the mask by pegs, lieneath the throat of the 
salmon is the wooden ethgy of a hair seal, represented as swimming 
crosswise to the course of the salmon, and fastened in position by a 
peg. On the back, in front of the tail, is a small model of a kaiak, 
held upright and crosswise to the length of the fish by a small splint; 
at one time the kaiak evidently bore the image of a man seated in the 
manhole. 

On each side of the salmon's body are broad, thin, paddle shape 
pieces of wood, fastened with pegs, to reiaesent the pectoral tins. 
Just behind these, and near the tail, on each side, is the flat, wooden 
image of a small salmon, the mouth, eyes, and gill openings ol' which 
are reiiresented by iucised lines. Just below the Junction of the sal- 
mon's neck with the body are incised lines wliich represent a largo 
mouth with teeth: in the rear of this, on each side, is a large eye cut 
iu relief. The entire back of the tisli is occupied by a semiiitinian face, 
having a remarkable V-shape mouth, with thecorners turned upand the 
teeth cut iu relief; two oval nostrils and the eyes are pierced through 
the wood. The outline of the moutii and the gill openings of the sal- 
mon's head, also of the mouth below the salmon's neck and tlieoutlines 
of the mouth aud teeth in the face on the back, are red; and a band 



4ns Tin: kskimu ai«»ut itKitiNii stuait iktm *» ii* 

• ' iM-i'k of tlie salmon aruiiiiil on each side to tbt- end 
I. ' i as ilie liaiiil aloii^' the sides of the small tish repi'e 

M-nt«-il on eittii-i' sidi- ot tin- salmon, are of the same eolor. The |iu|iil 
of rill- salmon's e.\e. the outline of the teeth in the lar^e mouth helow 
tlii' \.v I. a:id outiini-ot the eye just behiritl this, the speetaele shape 
.1:1 ;; . iiM rin- the «-\es of the law. the interior of the nostrils, and the 
iKMtin;^ the mustache, as well as a line snrroiindin{^ the raised 
ol ihe faee, are lihiek. The lemaindtr ol' the <»uter side of the 
ni.i.^U, inrliidin;; the seal model and kaiak, are white; the seams on the 
kaiak, however, are indicated liy M;ii'k lines. About the border of this 
m;isk are set white quill fwitliers of some K""- The interior is exca- 
vated. The face on the liiick represents the inito of the lisli. 

I"i;;ure -, plate ci, from lower Ivuskokwim river, represents the hair 
seal I'hiiva lnivUiitiu. This mask is carveil as a tiattened imafie of the 
common hair seal. It is alxmt 11 inches loii{^ by <• inches in width, and 
has four hnj,'e, llii)per shape, wooden attachments to represent the four 
limlis. 'I'liese are carved on their liorders to represent the t()e8 of the 
animal, and the eyes, nose, and mouth are well ie|)resented on the 
rounded head. On the seal's back the ;,'reater portion of the surface is 
(M-rnpied by a circidar face like that of a man, having,' below the eyes 
twti pear-shape nostrils and a cresci-ntic mouth, with ti|iturned corners, 
wliich has a double row of scpiare cut teeth. The ujiper surface of 
this niu-k is jiainted white, and the membrane between the toes and 
the hind flippers are black. A<-ross the eyes of the Inunan face is 
marked in black the outline of a jiair of snow-}jo};;iles. The interior 
ol this nia>k has a shallow excavation, ami the border is surrounded by 
a j^roo\c in which is fastened a strip of skin from the neck of a rein- 
deer, with the Ion;; hairs standiii;; out all around like a halo. The face 
on the ba<'k of this mask is su|)posed to represeut the features »)f the 
seal's I II nil. 

I"i;;ure .'I, plate <ii, from the lower Kuskokwini, measuies IS by ') 
inches. It is an oval, tiattened mask of thin material, having; carved 
in sli^^ht relief a ;;rotesi|ue human countenance with a Chinese like 
ph5'si<>;;n<imy. The alinondshupe eyes are set obliijucly and the 
broad, tiattened nose w itli oval nostrils and huge crescentic mouth with 
upturned corners are curiously like an exagfrerated Chinese face. The 
eyes are indiratrd by a sunken area on the surface of the wood, in which 
arc pierced the large, round iiujiils. Teeth are indicated by si|uare- 
cut, p<'g like iirojcctions. A band of deerskin with long, projecting 
hair is set in a groove around the border. A biuad, black litu- is drawn 
acioss the e_\es, and the upper lip and chin are painted icd, the teeth 
and lest of face bc'ing white, in<-lndiug the interior of the eyes. The 
signitlcatiou of tliis mask is nnknown. 

I'ignre ■_', plate III. shows a mask, from Sabotnisky, measuring SA l>y 
(>\ iiu-hes. It is a rmlely o\al rei>rescntation of a death's head iind is 
made by using lire to char the wood into the pio|ier sliajie. Tin- eyes 



BUREAU UF AMERICAN tTHNOL 



^smwV' 



EIGHTtENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



r::^ 




MASKS ONE-FIFTH 



"'^''=""' IMASKS 4,|i| 

are large, irregularly roniulcd, and pierced tlin)ni;li. On earli side ..C 
the chin are represented two Inigv labrels, and a roughly lasl,ioii,-d 
nose and high cheekbones are also indicated, in the rear the mask is 
slightly excavated, with a ledge to enable the wearer lo grasp it w'ith 
his teeth. 

I'lgure 4, plate <:ii. from the lower Knskokwiin, measures (iY by 7 in.hes. 
It is a (luadrangular mask, with rounded corners, and is made of a I Inn. 
rather flattened piece of wood, it has a broad mouth extending clear 
across, with the lower Jaw carved in a separate piece and hinged near 
the ends with sinew, so that it can be moved uj) and down. At the cor- 
ners of the lower jaw are rei)reseiited, by s(iuared wooden ai)pendages 
with small, wooden strips, labret pendants of peculiar style, attached to 
the chiu with whalebone. The month above and below is bordered with 
wooden pegs to represent teeth. Two snboval nostrils, near the middle 
of the face, and eyes of the same si/.e and shai)e arc itierced through 
the mask. The pupils are represented by small wooden i)egs. carved 
narrow at the ends and rounded in the middle, set in so that their 
broad, rounded i)ortion is in the middle of the eye opening. Just above 
the eye, on each side, and set in by a. squared wooden jieg, is a some- 
what jtointed, tlatteiied, or paddle-shape piece of wood representing an 
ear. Fastened to each side of the face by splints, just above the cor- 
ners of the mouth, are the ends of two hoops which extend out and 
around the upper side of the countenance and are held in i)osition 
by the wrappings of splint; to the outer of these Iioojjs are attached 
three long feathers with downy plumes at their tii)s. Fastened innne- 
diately about the face of the mask, and held in position by the split 
ends of pegs set anmnd the border, is a stri]) of deerskin with long, 
upstanding hairs, forming a halo-like fringe. This mask re|U-esents 
the iiiKu. of a Canada lynx. The ear tips are painted black bcliind, and 
are white near their bases to represent the markings on the ears of 
the lynx. The entire face is white, with rounded, bluish spots and a 
series of brownish blotches along the borders of tiie mouth, above ami 
below, and a black line is drawn from eye to eye. 

Figure 1, plate <"il, shows a mask, from south of the Yukon moutli. 
measnriug (! inches high by 4i wide. It is thin and rather Hat. being 
only slightly excavated behind, square on top and along the sides, 
becioming rounded on the lower portion. It represents seniihuman 
features with bird-like mandibles projecting from above and lielow the 
mouth, which is broad with the corners upturned, and extends on each 
side to the extreme borders of the mask. The center of the mouth is 
pierced through: a round l)lock projects outward between the mandi- 
bles and has attached to its outer end by a rag the rudely carved 
efiigy of a walrus head with proj.'cting tusks. The eyes and nostrils 
are pierced through the mask. Abov the eyes, upon each sale, are 
the head and shoulders of a wolf in ivlief. Tin- remainder ol the 
wolfs body aud all its limbs are .•arve.l free „n a block extending 



41n THE KSKIMO AIIuUT IU:KIN(; STKAIT !mi a!» u 

(iiilwiinl liori/DiitHlly and att:ii-li)-il U> tlie Hide of tlie mask \>y wuodeii 
|M-K.*< M> as t>> b«- I'liiitiitiiuiiH witli the part on tlie mask. Tin-Be uulves 
art' i'e|>ri>->i'iite'l as walking; toward the i-enter, their lieud8 close to- 
ilet lier and (ads oiitstrcti-li<-d in u))|M)sitc diri-i-tion8. Surn>uadiu(; tliu 
masks at a Hliort distance is a small uooden iKxip. in wliieli is i(isert4.-*i 
thrri- iVatlierH tippetl with <lowiiy plumes, one on each side and one 
on top. Tlic foreliead. a riufi around each eye, a line over the nostrils, 
the innstaelie, and the ehin, with the entire tif^ure of the wolf on the 
left sitle, aie hlack, s|M»tted sparsely with white. The other wolf is 
white, witii the end of its tail an<l feet black, as are its eyes and 
nostrils. TIk" insiile of the wolves' mouths, the mouth of the mask, 
inrludin^ the inside of the niandii>les and the fi;;nre of the walrus, e.\- 
i-eptin;; the tusks, are re<l. The Ki;;nilicatioii of this mask is unknown, 
hut I believe that the black and white wolves bear a symbolic reference 
to day and ni^'lit. 

Fifinre .'», plate <'li!. from lower Kuskokwim river, is Tjj by 4\ 
inches. It is a rudely cai ved, rather llatteiied inaskette, thin on one 
side and thicker on the other, with a nearly straight outline along 
one side and rounded on the other three sides. Facing the straight 
side of the mask the surface is excavated, leaving a raised edge or rim 
near the j)ther border, and in the depression thus formed is a rounded, 
saucer-like excavation about two inches in «liameter it) w hicli are piercetl 
two holes for eyes and a cresceiitic mouth. Surrounding the boiders of 
this maskette are two hoops of splint held iu ]iosition by willow bark 
lashings. The space occupied by the small face is painted a slaty bluish 
color, and a band of the same color is drawn along the ridge toward the 
outer border on the main portion of the maskette; the remainder is 
white. This maskette re|ire.seiits a half moou and is connected with 
religious ceremonials held during the winter in that region, but I failed 
to learn its exact signilicance. 

figure 4, j)late nil. from lower Kuskokwim river, is .">^ by 3.^ 
inches. It is a small, llatlened, rudely sliaped inaskette, representing a 
giotescpie scmihuman countenance with two rounded eyes and an oval 
mouth piercing the front. The nostrils are indicated by two sipiared 
depressions. In the mouth three wooden i)egs, two above and one 
below, indicate teeth. The borilers of this object are .set with small, 
white feathers and a rawhide cord is attached to its ui)per edge for 
the purpose of sustaining it. It is somewhat jiear shape above, con- 
tracting on the sides at a point between the nostrils and the mouth 
and then expamliiig to lurm the loiindiMl chin. Its sigiiiticance is not 
known. 

i'igureii, ]date<iii, is a maskette from the lower Kuskokwim, measur- 
ing ."iby 1 1 inches. It is a rudely iiuadrangular, tiattened piece of woml, 
having roughly oval eyes and a cresceiitic mouth, piciceil through, 
rpon each side of the face are iiiserte«l two jiadille shape, slightly cur\e<l 
sticks, expanded toward the ends. From the base of the nose a groove 



EICHTEENTH AN 




MASKS ABOUT ONE-FOUHTH 



MASKETTKS 



411 



extends along the snrface to the upper en.l. The .•hin and a sp-.ce 
above the eyes are dark sh.te in <„lor, spotted with whit.- the re' 
mainder is white. The purpose of this i.iaskette is f„r use in reiio-ious 
observances, hut the exaet ceremonies in wiiieli it figured were not 
learned. 

Figure 2, plate cm. is a luasketle IVoni l.,wer luiskokwini river. It 
measures GA b\- I'^J inches, and is a very rudely made specimen, rei.re- 
seutiug semihuiuan features on a long, thin, (|uadiang.ilar bloek of 
wood. The back i)ortion is very slightly concave: the front has a rid-e 
running down the middle, from which a bevel extends to the outer 
border on the right side. On the left side the surface of the mask is 
scooped out parallel to this ridge to a depth of half an inch, so that 
the ridge rises abruptly from the nearly plane surface on that side. Hy 
means of a hinge of bark a long, thin, leal-like tablet is attached to the 
left side of the face. This little tablet ('loses like a door ui)on the face, 
covering it comiiletely to the median ridge on that side. The beveled 
right side of the face has a crescentic eye with the corners jjointing 
downward, and an ovate hole through the little door on the other side 
of the face serves as an eye for that side when it is closed. 

The mouth is rudely and irregularly cut near the lower edge of the 
maskette, having its left corner drawn up and expanded. A notch in 
the lower end of the door upon that side serves, when it is closed, as a 
])ortion of the mouth. The median ridge described serves as the nose. 
Ui)on each side thin. Hat strips of wood, somewhat r|uadrate in shape 
with a rounded projection at their lower end, are attached by lihrous 
bark and represent earrings. From the middle of the chin is hung, in 
the same manner by a ])eg and a small strip of bark, another similarly 
shaped, Hat strip of wood, with the rounded projection on the lower end 
but with a s<iuared slit extending up and down its middle. Tins repre- 
sents a curious form of labrct and, from its position, indicates that tlie 
face is intended for that of a woman. The general surface of the 
maskette, including the fronts of the earrings, the labret. and botii sides 
of the small, leaf-like door are painted white. The nostril on the right 
side is outlined in black. The earrings and labret have their outer 
surfaces crossed with black lines, and the rounded lower end is black. 
The inner side of the little door has painted upon it, in black, the out- 
line of an umiak with the sail up and a solitary human ligure in the 
stern with the arms upraised. The portion of the maskette covered by 
this leaflet has rudely drawn upon it, in black, four semihuman faces 
representing mythical beings. Three feathers of the horne<l owl are 
stuck along the upper edge. The meaning of this object is unknown. 

Figure 3, plate cm, from the lower Kuskokwim, is a thin disk, .Si inches 
in diameter, with the back concavcly excavated and tlie front having :i 
raised ridge slightlv within the border, inside of which is a circular face 
with a distorted semihuman appearance. I'^rom the rim mentio.ie.l it is 
beveled both outwardly and inwardly, the inner beveled portion border- 



H2 TIIK KSKIMO AHOl'T UKUINli 8TUAIT {nii am« m 

Hi;; ilie (lu-v. Tlic rinlit »•> »■ is iiidicutfd l>y a rrtj.sfciitic liole. with the 
...,,.,, .i... !,,> ,1.1 ; tin- li'ii fyf is tiiarketl Ity itii iiisorti-d wikmIoii \t\ufi 
'>iif liiiiith ofaii inch. An a!iniiiidKha|K' nostril is the 
. :il«-ii. Tin- iii'fw, in dim rt'lit'f, is twistod toward the 
ii;:lii; till- mouth is lar;;f anil roiiinlcd on the rijjlit corner, thence 
cviciidin^' across and np on tiic left Hide, ending; in a sliarp an{,'le near 
tlie I ye |iej;. In a ^rooxe aruiiiid the border id a strip of reindeer skin 
uiih npstaiidint; hair. On eacli side and at the top arc inserted three 
ipiills lipped Willi downy )ilnines. Distorted countenances of this kind 
arc made ton-present the supjHised features of a number (ifsujiernatunil 
lK"in;;s known as ttinijhiit. 

Fi;;ure 1, plate riii, is a maskoid from lia/binsky. It is a rou(;hly 
rounded block, -\ by ',i inches, liaving at its lower side a ]iroiection with 
a hole for the insertion of one linger. I'imjii one side is carved a rep- 
resentation of a bird's head; on the oilier a human countenance is 
shown. .V groove extends around the side of this block at the junction 
of the two images, in which several feathers are sot. 

The representation of the entire liea<l of any bird or animal on linger 
masks is uncommon, this instance being one of the few that came to uiy 
notice. The human face is painted red, as are the eyes and mouth 
of Ihe bird: the bird's face on eai-h side and the line on the top of head 
are wliiti-. The sides of the head and the line extending forward along 
the ridge of the nose or beak are of slate color. This is used as a 
linger mask by women In ceremonial dances; the exact meaning is 
Hiiknown. 

From Ha/.binsky, on the lower Yukon, is a very large and nitber 
roughly made linger mask (number HiliO), representing on one side a 
human lace and ileeply excavated on the other. It is the largest linger 
mask that was .seen; it measures \'\ by 7 inches. 

iigiire -, plate iiv, is a linger mask from l!ig lake. It is a square, 
thin block, with a broad, rounded extension projecting froni its lower 
edge through which are pit-rced two linger holes. The rear is exca- 
vated Hinoothly. The front has a distorted semihuman face, in slight 
relief, surrounded by a circular grcove; the right i-ye is almond-shape 
and is inclined toward the nose. On the left side is a crescentic eye 
with the corners turned down. The mouth is a llatteiied oval with the 
right hand cornel- diawn outward and up; the nose i8 twisted t<i the 
lilt. Fioni the bordci- of the circular countenance to each corner «)f 
the block is drawn a black line, and the crescentic eye is surrounded by 
a black area; Ihe reiimiiider of the face is painted white. .Vroiind the 
bonier :iie inserted six long tufts of reindeer h;iir and six tail feathers 
of the old sipiaw diuk. with tips of plumes. It is used by women in 
ecrenionial dances; otherwise its significance is unknown. 

I'igures .t and I, jilatc civ, show two linger iimsks from Konignnu 
guiiiut. Ivuli is made from ji discoidal, llatteneil block IV'f inches thick, 
connected by a small neck with a broad wooden attachment, which is 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



ElOHTECNTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. Cll 




rfiiPA^, 





MASKS NEARLV OtJE-FOUHTHi 



^'■""■^' FIN'GKR MASKS jj.j 

pierced l.y a donbly ro.uule.l bole, i„r tl... insertion of Uvo il„o-,., s 1 , is 
snrm.mdod by a gvoovo in wl.icl, is s.m a stii,, of doorskin wUI, .i„. Io.p^ 
bail- upstandn,- and xviri, . ,,uill tip,,P,l with downy feathers extondino- 
out over eadi sid.- and ni. troni li„. top. Oi, on.' side ol' lio„re I is a 
grotesque sonnliunian fare, with Ihe month conunencin"- a" ■, ,h.wn 
turned corner on the risiit si.b>. thence extondin- ..verluni .b.wn on 
tlie other side, then sweepin- up around the left b,n-,h.r of the face and 
forehead. The eye njion the k'ft sid.', i.s absent: upon I lie ri-lit side is 
a cresceutic eye with corners down turned, and the nose "is eurved 
around toward the ri.yht. In the other exaniph' (li-ure ::, the bhick 
is surrounded near its bonb'r by a rid.-e from whicli a narrow bevel 
extends outward to tlie edfie and another one inward to the border of 
a face in relief whicdi oceu])ies the Miiibile. This face lias no nose, but 
has the two cresceutic eyes inclined downward toward the center and 
a cre.seeutic mouth with down-turned corners cut into the block. This 
is used ill ceremonial dances, as are other objects of this kind. The 
distorted countenance of the mask shown in tiji'urc l represents the 
supiiosed features of a tioujhak. 

Fij-ure 1, plate niv, from Norton sound, is a rounded, llaitened disk, 
") inches long- by 2^ broad, with the center removed, forming a riii^- and 
connected below by a short neck to an enlarged ring like appendage 
for the insertion of two liiiijers. The hole throiish the center is nearly 
au inch and a half in diameter and is crossed by two small strips of 
wood. On each face of the disk, or ring, just inside the border, is a 
shallow groove. Along another groove, around the outer edge of the 
ring, are iuserted five long, downy feathers. This specimen was col- 
lected by Mr L. M. Turner, who states that it was intended to represent 
a star, the feathers indicating the twinkling ol' the light. This finger 
mask was used by women in ('ertaiu ceremonial dances. 

Figure 1, plate CV, from ]!ig lake, between Yukon and Kiiskokwim 
rivers, is a ring 4.;t inches in diameter inclosing a second ring a little 
over 2.^ iu('hes in diameter, which is attached to the outer one by two 
projectious ou opposite sides. On the lower side is a rounded projec- 
tion about au inch in length and two inches broad, through which 
are pierced boles for the insertion of two lingers. Kacli one of the 
wooden rings is grooved entirely around the middle, and the outer one 
is beveled on the iiincv half toward the center, while the inner one is 
beveled both ways from the middle. The outer ring has its border 
white, and is black, with white .spots, on the beveled inner half. The 
inner ring has its outer portion white, with black sjwts, the inner por- 
tion being red, with white spots. Surrounding Ihe border is a strip of 
deerskin with uiistanding hair, and Mve tail feathers of the old-SMuaw 
duck tipped with downy plumes. This mask also is used by women in 
ceremonial dances, but its siguilication is unknown. 

Figure iJ, plate cv, from I'astolik. is -l',' by 2;,' inches. It is a riulely 
carved woodeu block, roughly pear-shape in outline, with a curiously 



■lit 



TIIK KSKIMo AllOl T IlKKIXO STItAIT 



r(iuti<l<-<l. M-iiiiliiiiiiaii <uiiiitt'iiaiKi" upon tin- front and deeiily but roughly 

••\ravaii-.l tx'liiml. A |>roi«'tlion 

lK'li'Wi*|>n'ric<l\vitlia routiil holi' ^, 

liir tli4- liii;;i-r. Two roiiinl o|mmi- V . ' 

iti-sriir«'\«'Siiiiil a larger oiif rep- ^ 

ti-sfutiiig tlic umutli piiTci' tlie 

lai-i- ami an- tin- only iii<liiation.s 

ol' a rouiiti'iianci'. Tin- faco JH 

painted l>la«k, witli a tcmI border. 

I'poii earli side and on tlie to]i is 

in->trti-d a )|iiill witli ibiwny 

plumes at tlio end. It is a wo 

man's linger mask, used in cere- 
monial danres, but its 
mi'aniii); is unknown. 

l-'lgnre 1*. plate iV, 
tVoni Cape liomanof, is 
a pearsliape ring con- 
taining within it a simi- 
irly shaped liloek at- 
tached at 





for tlie insertion of 
The outer ring is beveled both 
out waidly and inwardly, and has 
a ileep groove about its biuder 
in which is fastened a strip of 
reindeer skin having the long 
hairs upstanding. On each side 
and above are insertetl long 
feathers from the tail of the old- 
S(|uaw duck, tipped with down. 
The ring and the central block 
are painti-d yellowish white lui 
both surfaces, with lound red 
and black dots. This mask was 
used by the women in ceremo- 
nial dances. 






^ 



142— EaelefeailH'r wand imn] in <Ianrr« (}). 



I'iguie 1 It shows a maskoid. from the lower Yukon, repre^euting the 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHMjLOG. 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. 




FINGER MASKS AND MASKOIDS 'ABOUT one-fouRTh 



'"='-""'*i cerk:\iomal wands 

head of a smnll liair seal, with a shMidcr rod aboni !i ind 
projecting from the mouth and tnniinj;- upward. Iniv 
iiig fastened nUmg its lengtli at reguhir intervals livt- 
Ihit wooden disks about an inc.ii and a half in diame- 
ter, representing bul)l)les rising on tlie surface of the 
water. The seal's face, is ])ainted white, with blaek 
dots on the muzzle hn- tiie whiskers, and the eyes and 
nostrils are outlined in black. The inside of the mouth 
is painted red and the to)) of head light Ijjuc. This 
maskoid is 4i inches in diameter, and lias tiic jiostcrior 
side excavated. 

Number SaOLT) is a woman's finger mask, Ironi Chalir- 
mut, south of the Yukon delta. It is a rounded wooden 
ring, with a wooden disk in the center, held in position 
by four small, spoke like attachments from the outer 
ring. This wooden disk has upon one surface two 
incised eyes and a down cuived, crescentic mouth. 
Upon the other surface it has a grotes(pie mouth twist- 
ed far to one side, with a small wooden peg to repre- 
sent an eye and a small, deei) hole for the single nostril. 
A strip of reindeer skin, with long, upstanding hair, 
is fastened in a groove extending around the edge of 
the outer ring. This is used by women during cere- 
monial dances; its meaning is unknown. 

OTIIEU ( EKKMOXIAI. OlS-JKCrs 

In addition to the masks various other articles 
of personal adornment are used during ceremonial 
dances. Among these may specially be noted the 
feathered wands used by women and the iillets worn 
about the head by both men and women. At Cape 
Nome, on the northern shore of Norton sound, I ob- 
tained several specimens of wands made from the 
quill-feathers of eagles, eac^h of which consists of a 
single primary feather with a. slioit wooden rod thrust 
into the truncated (piill and held in place by a lashing 
of sinew. At the tip of the feather are lashed two or 
three downy plumes from the eagU'. 

On the coast of Bering sea from Noiton l)ay south to 
the Kuskokwim somewhat similar wands were in use. 
On the lower Yukon and thence southward these 
wands are made by lashing an eagle (|uill-feather 
along the length of a slender rod, having fastened at 
its upper end two or three bare quills several inches in 
length, with downy plumes attached to thi^ ends, like 
that shown in Ugure Itl.', from b'azbinsky. About the 



415 

length, 



Fici. h:!— 1- 


:>!;lo- 


fialh.T 


»:uiil 


u^ecliudaii 


:i-s(J). 



»]•; 



riiK f>KiM<> Aiiorr hkhixc stuait 



hiiiHlN- >-i t II'- " iiiul. siiir..iiii<liii« the l»aso i>r the- larp' .|uill fcatlu-rs, arc 
I.I.I...I lull- ol ".ill liaii or H'iinlc-«T skill with thi- loiin liairs proji-itiii^'. 
I ..l.iaiiuMl at (,'aiH- Noim- illKiiie U3( nicasiiii's a little over ;.<• 
, liiinlli; those Iroiii the eoast ol HeriiiK sea. farther to the 
Hoiiiii. an- Hiiiiiewhat longer. Tlu-se waiiiU an- helil iipri^jht in the 
liaiitis of tin- woiiu-ii <laii(-«-rs ami are moved liack and forth, or Iroin 
one -ide to the other, with a .sli;;ht swaying <ir lieatiii;: motion, in time 
»ith till- inoveineiils of the daiieers and the bcatiii}: of the drum. 

Ill addliion to the waiid.s nieiitioncd there were obtained at Cape 
Nome other artirles used for personal adornment during; the perform- 
aiire of a winter festival at that place. One of the.se is an armlet 
(li;.Mire nil consisting of a strap made of tanned sealskin, to which 

is M.\ved Icr an iiic!osin;j flap the front part of the lower jaw of a 

while fo\. 

At the same jiiace were prociin-d a pair of tanned sealskin gloves with 

a pair of sea parrot feet 
^ ■*~~ seW4-d upon their hacks. 

I'sed ill the same dances 

- rj at this place is a lillet 

"^U^Jf^ (original iiumher (^13) 

> ^ij made of a small, rounded 

/|^^^ ^ 1W^ ^ rin;; of line sliavin(r« 

^"^ ■ 'V' twisted to;;ether and hav 

■■ in;; thrust tiirouch it a 

siMall wooden peg. to the 

upper end of which, in 

i_ ,,,!, ,.,i,> front, are attach<-d three 

short ea;;le feathers about 

six inches Ion};, ami thre<« loii;^ eaRle ipiills Just behind tliese. To eai-li 

side of this rin;: is attached the einl of a narrow rawhide strap for 

passing; over the top of the head. This is worn so that the rin^' of 

shaviii;;s rests like a pail on the middle of the foreht-ad. with the eagle 

leathers standing' upright. 

On .•s|eil;:i- island was seen a lillet. worn by a man during one of the 
ilaiii'i-^. whicli was made lioiii the skin of the head. neck, and back of 
the yellow bill Inoii. 

(►n Kill /t'biie sound was obtained one of these headdresses ligiire 1 l.'i/. 
The skin, with feathers in plai-e. had been removed, leaving the beak 
ill positi.iii. The skull had also been removed and tin- skin split along 
till- ln-ad and neck boili aliovi- and below, ami a narrow strip from 
along the miildle iil llie link upon each side formed a continuation of 
the bands of neck skin. I'liese long strips of skin aie lied together at 
llie iuiii-tioii of the neck and the body, iliiis leaving the skin from the 
liack to hang down twelve or liltecn iiiihcs over the wearer's shoulders. 
The lillet is worn in such a posjilon that the long yi-llow beak of the 
liiid proji-cts outward over tin- forehead. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. CIV 



^Pj 









l{^>Q'f' 



^•i 



A^i 



V, 



w^y ^ uc^ 



^: 



1 





3 ' ^^^^-.'^ 4 I 



FINGER MASKS one-fifth 



NELSON] 



<Kl;i:.M().\IAL ni.I.KTS 



417 



On the lowers ukoM and ,l,.M,ee t,. Kuskokwin. nvn, ,1h- .nn, dnn„.. 
cer a,„ aa,u-..s w.u- l.n.d nilots „.ade ..r .ol.sldu or r sU ^ 

neck ..I ,1,.. ,en,d.n-, uitl, th. lonj, ],,, n,.standi„. TI,. w.Ik ^ 
"llets an. .nad. U-on, nan.nv Mnps of skn. tak.n ho.u tlu, a uS 






shoulders or neck, wberc f lie fur is loiifjost. Tli.>sc 
strips arc, scw.'d to tin- edges of a band of fanned 

sealskin,l()rnun,tianui)standin<.rin.u- of fur extend- 
ing from the edges both npward and downuanl. 
On the snrface of the int(!nncdiate strij. t,f s<'al- 
skiu, which is fVom two to three inches broad, are 
sewed uanow, parallel strips of white, parchment- 
like, tanned sealskin, or reindeer-skin witli the 
hair clipped so as to give it a velvety surface. 
Another lillet ^tigure 14(;) from tlie same legion 

is made from 

a strij) of 

wliitc, ])arcii- 

me 11 t- 1 i ke. 

tanned seal- 

sk i n about 

two inches in 

breadth, liav- 

1- I'i. i4.'--i,iH)iisKiii niiet 

ing sewed ^v„nlHlll;l.l.,•^. 

along its sur- 
face two narrow strips of lilack, 
tanned sealskin half an inch ai)art, 
with two ])arallel cords sewed to 
the skin at eipial distances between 
these black bands. The iipi)er bor- 
der of this lillet has sewed on, in 
addition, a narrow strip of skin from 
the neck of the reindeer, with up- 
standing hair eight inches in length. 
The wolfskin lillet is worn so that 
one of the bordering lines of wolf hair extends down, concealing the 
upper half of the face, while the other line of fur stands up about the 
crown. In the tillet last described the outer standing hairs form a 
tall, crest-like circle sibout the crown. 

IS ETIl -7 




Fm. 146— Eeindeor-skin fillt't (J) 



■***»li<1*^ 



41S 



TIIK K~KIM-> AltoLT liKIUM; M UAIT 



AiioiliLT kind "f lill<"t IS tliat worn liy witiiifu (luriiij,' tli»' diiiu-es. 
T\vi» 111" tln'si' wtTc stM'ii ;it a Irstival on tin- lower Yukon, one of which 
was iiiaili- lixiii tin- ^kin ol tlie white fox with the fur left on, ami was 
foriniil by a liaml of skin which cxttndiMl around tlu- lieail. with two 
lian;,'in;; .stii|>s attarhcil over each tcnijilc ami han;.'in;,' helow the chin 
on each Bide. Another was made fr<pm skins of tin- lar^je ermine of 
thai rc;;ion. First was lornicil a liand with tiic hair on and ahont an 
.i,.l. in, I ;i li:iir I. road, to |ia>> aiound tlic head. Attached to this by 




tlicii- heads, and han;:iM;: ilown over each side of the face, were two 
coinplete ermine skins. Tiie women who wore tiiese also carried eagle- 
feather wamls in their hands dtiriii;,' ilie dam-es. In the accompany 
in;; illustration li;;iire 117 . tVnni a photo^^rajdi. tin- ermine slcin lillet 
deserilied is shown. 

Ornamental armlets oi various kinds are used bv the men in these 
dances. I'i^nre I. jilale cxi, from lko;.'mnt. on the lower ^'ukoIl. is a 
^ I e\am|ile III these, ll is a broad band of reindeer skin with 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGV 



EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. 




FINGER MASKS aboui one-fourth 



NELSON] CKUEMOMAI, AKMI.KTS AXU WIJISTI.]-/! 

tlic hair dipped IVoiii it. and used with the liai 



■11!) 

idc iiiilwai-d; ilie 



baiwl measures 9 by 3^' inches. ()„ ,he „u(sid.. ,he h„r.ier is i,eeuniea 
bj- three sueeessive narrow b.nds of sl<in, ,he o,,,,.,- „ne of reindeer, 
the hair bein- elip,,ed t„ about lialf an inrh in len-ih This is sue 
ceeded by a narrow ban.l of skin fn.n, th,. ne.^k ol' a du.-k. (he feithers 
tornKus- a narrow border, wliul, is sueeee.K-d bv a narrow han.I of skiu 
tron. the hair .seal with tlie .short liairs nMuainins. Inside of these 
bordermg strips of fur is a surface of taiuu'd skin eolored reddish 
brown. This is surroninled by a narrow strip ..f white. parelHM..nt hke 
sealskin, liaviu- set in pairs at re-ular intervals ahui- tlie two .sides 
tufts of hair ;!J, inehes h.iij;-. dyed reddish brown. The rest of tlie sur- 
lace is eovered by narrow, alteniatin.i; strips of while tanned pairli- 
meiit of sealskin divided by eipial spaees of tlie red skin ,,f the liaek- 
grouiid. i:aeh of tlie white strips is held in place by heavy slitchin-- 




Fl.i. I4S— Wiisllit fr 



of sinew thread sewed over and binding in two or three long, white, 
reindeer hairs, which are laid along the strips, iirodnciiig an alternat- 
ing black and white seam. Along each red strip are four parallel rows 
of stitches of the same kind, giving the surface of the armlet a longi- 
tudinally striped and dotted aiipeaiaiicc. This armlet is held in jilace 
by leather thongs with the hair lett on. .\ |)air of these, fa.steneil at 
one end of the armlet, is made of alternating jiieces of mink, reindeer, 
and a smooth, daik, tanned skin. They are sewed with sinew and rein- 
deer hair, as described, in seams on the surface of the armlet. To the 
tips of these thongs are attached several thin strips of sealskin with 
the hair left on, serving as a sort of tassel. Armlets of this kind have 
various styles of oriiameiitation, some of them being fringed with strips 
of skin still bearing tlie hair, with their main siiilaces of white, parch- 
ment-like sealskiu, sometimes iiaving little strings cpf beads as pendants 



J2n 



THE KSKIMO AHOl T IIKKIVC STKAlT 



iiloiij; their l»<»r«UT!i, i»r >tri|ic<l with narrow Imiuls of skin or rows of 
hoiivy stilfhiii;;. 

l''it;ur<' 1 1'' shows ii wristli-t froiri Iko;;iiiiit, on the lowi-r Yukon, iiswl 
ill thfsi- ilanri's. It is inaiU- of tatiiii-il sralskiii bonlfn-il by a narrow 
jttrip with thf liair h-fl on. On thi- rt-st of the siirfa«-f there is a series 
of nini- narrow alternatini; strips of yelh)wisli-whitc anil re<l<iish brown 
taiiiHii >e;il>kin. most of wliiih have ahiii^' their li'n;,'th a row of stripes 
of thi- aiternatiii}; ihirk and wiiite ]iatterns foriin-il liy wwiii;: in white 
reiinb-er liair.s with sinew threatl. At eipial intervals in the midst of 
otiier bands are two broadi-r strips of the reddisli brown skin, having 
reinib-er hairs erossiiifj their siirfaee and {gathered in the middle by the 
sinew siitehin;,'. ko that a (-ontiniioiiK series of X-sliap«; (i{riires are 
formed around the entire leu;;th of the 
wristlet. 

Fi;,'iire 111), from Saliotnisky, on the 
lower Yukon, is an armlet worn by men on 
ea<-li arm. between the elbow and shoulder, 
during' the bladder festival. It consists 
^ ' r K of a Ion;;, rounded, tapering jiad made of 

1^! ^ /'^^ some Soft material, covered with lish skin, 

\Vj ^g / 1 and having the two ends i)rovided with a 

M 1 I B ^v • rawhide cord for tying it about the arm. 

This long pad is crossed diagonally by two 
l)airs of narrow strijis of skin .sewed to its 
surface. One of these strips is black and 
made of the skin from the foot of some 
waterfowl, probably a goose or swan. 
The other strip is colored a dingy reddish 
brown and was taken from .some tisii. 
The pairs of strips mentioned exteinl 
Ki'i Ui(- i ■■■! I nuni III tiaiic. v. from the inside, near the jioint of the pad. 

cross over its outer portion, and turn under 
toward tin' opposite point again, so that the pairs cross on the outer side 
near the midille. Inserted in the middle of tin- |iad and ]irojectingback 
from it, so as to stand out a little from the arm when worn, is a wooden 
rod having three wihmIcii vanes lashed at each einl along its length, to 
represent the feather vanes ii.sed for feathering the butt of an arrow, 
which this attachment is intended to represent. 

Th«' cenlral shaft and one of tlii'se wooden vanes are ])ainled red. t^le 
other two are dull green. The red vane is crossed by a .series of diag- 
onally tapering black lines, broadest along the outer edge, the other 
twi) are cros.sed by a .series of black lines extending diagonally from 
the border of I he inner edge. 

.M I nalakit, on the shore of Norton .sound, 1 obtained a pair of 
oniaiiieiited trunks number ISTO'.*) used in dances by the Malemut. 
They niea-uie alnuit j.'i inches in letiglh ;inil cxlenil from the hip to 




BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHN 



■NNJAL REPORT PL. CVI 




BELTS AND ARMLET about one-fouru 



'""■""' KFFKCr OF ( HlilSTIAMTV 4..1 

tb. npiHT thi,l,, ..n.l .,. ,na.l. of ta.no nnndc-r ski, ttle.l whi.o 

and brown. .h,v l.av. a„ .„nanu.„tal s„.i,. ..xt,.n,ii„, ,V,.,n tl.o lower 

^^"'■'^' "" f:"'l' ^ -"1 '■'•••vinj.- u,wanl aroun.l tl,.- ba-k of L " r 

inent, reachu.. wUhiu about .A ind.es of ,1... „„„er l.or.ler iu ,1,.. m 
Lxte„,ln.g- „art way down ,1,.. Iront of „,.. 1..,, on eaH, side, i .' 
ornan.ental hand of Mid.e d-.-rskin l.avin, a seam alon.- ,he borde 
on one s>de wub a row of su.all s,,aeed hunehes of red wors.ed. The 
ornan.ental ban.l. wl.iel, exten.ls fron. the lower ed,e of the trousers 
around to the rear, and .he short ban.ls i„ front, are bordered bv a 
strip of wolverine lur. About the waist is a band eontaininj, a draw- 
string for bindiny tiie garment around the hips. 

I'i-nre L'. plate cvi, from on., of the Dioniede islands, is a belt n.ade 
from the Jaw.s of crabs, worn by women durin- c.rtain festivals. 

1!I;M<.I(»N \m> >n I II<»I,<><;'\- 

KFKKCT OF < IIi;iSIF\.\ CONTACT 

During the time of my residenee in Alaska tin^ Kski ,,f the main- 
land were still firm believers in their aneieiit iviifiiou: but slight 
inodilieation could be found in their custoni.s. even immediately about 
St :\Iichael or at Mission (Ikognuit) on the lower Yukon, where the resi- 
dence of Kussian priests during thirty-tive or forty years had exerted 
greater influence against the ancient beliefs than at any other point. 
Services bavc^ been conducted irregularly in the small (Ireek Catholic 
churches at the places named, as well as at one or two jioints farther 
southward, but the inlluence on the K.skimo has been very slight. So 
far as could be observed, the sole effect of the i)iiestly elToits have 
been to cause the Kskimo to become more secietive than formerly about 
practicing their religious rites wben in the vicinity of white men. 

By gifts of small metal crosses, which the people wore as ornaments, 
and by other means, they were occasionally iiidu(;ed to attend church 
service. 1 venture to say that during my resilience there not a half 
do/.en full blood lOskimo could be found in all that region who really 
understood and beliexed in the white man's religion, and not one could 
be found who did not belie\e implicitly in the power of the shamans 
and in the religious rites handed down by the elders. 

Ill sonic districts, notably between lower Kuskol;wiiii and lower 
Yukon rivers, the ancient rites and beliefs were still practiceil in their 
aboriginal jiurity. IClsewhere the iirincMjial moilitication was in the 
gradual but persistent weakening of the old ideas i)roduced by inter- 
course with the fur traders. This etlect was more ai)parent than real, 
for the lUissians and Americans alike had ridiculed or treated with 
contempt the old customs, until it had become almost impossible to 
prevail upon the peo|)le to talk ol tlnir beliefs and traditions until, by 
long acquaintance, their cr)nliden(e had been gained. Curiously 
enough, the great mask festival (.ir/((/'-i/H-H»/o of tl>e Kskimo south of 



122 THE K-KIMO AholT MKIUNU STRAIT riii *>..xH! 

tliv Yukon iiiiMitli has Nii|i|)li)-<1 Iitiiim )>y xvliidi tin- nativt'S s|)i-ak nf the 
lifM-k clmri'li iiiitl ilH si-r\ii-i's aiiiuiij; thfiiisflves. Wlicii tlii-y saw 
till' ICiiKHJiiii |irii'si.H ill iMiil>riiiikTi-<l I'ubi-H {lertiiriniii;; (lit- (-oiii|ilicatt>«l 
oflici'"* of the •liiirth it « a'* lulicvitl that thi'V wi-ie witin-ssiii;; t\n- white 
man''' iii<>th(Ni III' cfhOiratiii;; a mask fi-stival Kiniilar to their own. 

Mill III ItAI'T 

The l-'skiiiio belifN I' that peiHoiis di-aliii;,' in witeheraft ha\e tin- (lower 
iil'tii-alinRa |ier->oii's iium or sliaih-. so that it will eaiise him to pine away 
anil ilir. This I -.au illiistrali-il at .1 village on the lower Yukon, where 
1 hill 'ct ii|. my eaiiKia to olitain a |iirtuie of the people as they were 
inoviii^ alioiit anion;: the hoiiKes. When I was foctisin;; the instrninent 
the In-ailinaii of the \illa^'e came up anil insisted on lnokiiij; iiniler 
till- rliith. \Vlii-n I pi-riiiitti-il him to ilo this he ga/eil intently for 
a miniiti- al the inoviii;; lit;iiri's on the ;;roiiiiiI ;;Iass and then sndilenly 
withiliew his lii-ail ami slioiiteil at the to|»i)f his voice to the surround- 
in;; people, "lie ha.s all of .\our shades in this liox," whereupon a panic 
ensued anion;; the ;.'i'oiip and in an instant they disap]ieared in their 
houses. 

.s|IAI)i:s OI' JHK IJKAU 

A ^host or \isilile shade is called li-Ilii-ukli'-tok, and is a form that an 
invisihie shade may soinelinies assume. My iiii|uiries anioii}; the |>eo|ile 
developed the fact that they believe in the existence of two or three 
distinct lorriis of the spiritual es.sence or soul. The ti't-ijhun'-it-tfitk^ or 
iiivisilile shade, is formed exactly in the shape of the body, is .sentient, 
and destined lor a future life. Another is the po-l:lilim' li'i-yhiin'ii g\}, 
which has a form exactly like that of the liody and is the life-niving 
warmth. It is without sense and takes ilij;ht into the air when a ]ier- 
Mill dies. 

I'lmn the people with wh.iin I talkeil I obtained a su;.'fjestion of a third 
kind ol' shade, which is supposed to remain with the bo<ly and to jios- 
sess evil powers which, however, seem to be limited, but I could 
not olitain more deliiiite iiiloriiiatioii about it. The shades of the dead 
are believed to liii;;<'i- for some time ill the vicinity of their life scenes, 
and on the northern simre of Norton sound 1 learned that for three 
months alter the death of a son the father must not drink from an 
iincovi'ied Vessel, for il' he does he may swallow some impurity Iroin 
the shade thai may In- present, and die. 

Iluiiii;; one of my sled;,'e Jonriieys I had an l-'skinio with me from 
the head >>[' Norton .sound to .S|ed;;e island. Durin;; the Joiiiney 1 
iiolired lor >ome day-, that whenever he drank he insert<'d a small dip- 
per lieiieath Ins fur coat, and then lowi-rine; his face under the collar 

drank I'loin tu alh. (In iiii|Uiry I was told that this was because his 

son had died a short time before and he dared not drink from an 
uncovered vessel, learinj; that some emanation from his son's shade 
mi;;lit ;;ei into the water and. buin;; swallowed, do him harm. 



I 



.NELSON I 



SIIADl.s OK TlIK DK.VI) _l-)3 

In andcnt times the sineus in the anus a.ul le^s «t a dea.l per..,,, 
who bad been of evil n-pate .larino- lif, ,ve,v eat i„ onier .„ pn-veat 
the .shade tnnn retunii,,-- 1,. ihe Uo.lyand .ausi,,.- it toualk ai „i..ht as 
a ghoul. '^ 

Xea,ly every attribate p„s....sse,l by the shad.s ..f poopi,. i. also 
beheved to be i,o.sses,sed e(iually by the shades of animals and the 
uiHU or shade of eve.y aniiaal is believed to posse.ss .seniihnn.an lorn,. 

Ihere are two plae.s t.. whieh thr shad.-s of the dead mav depart 
Some of the Eskimo tol.l ,ne it was believed that the .shades of shama.us 
or persons who died by aeeident. violence, or starvation, -o to a laml of 
plenty in the sky, where it has light, food, and water in abundan.-e. 

Shades of people who die from natural eauses go to the nude,'- 
ground land of the dead. There also go the shades of all dead aninials, 
wheieeaeh kind lives in a village of its own. In this iiiidergiound 
world the shades of i,eople dejiend entiiely on ihe olVerings of food, 
water, and elothiiig made to them by their lelatives li, the festivals 
given to the dead. Even the shades in the land of i)lenty eaii be made 
bappiei- by being ,eiiiembere<l with inr.sents in these festival.s. 

Some few persons are supposed to be unccMiifoitable after death. 
These aie mainly thieves who steal f,(mi their feUow vil!a<;eis, so,cerers 
or bad shamans, witehes, ami the ])eople who i)raetiee eertain f(ubi(UIeu 
eustom.s. The shades of evil person.s, as well as those of animals, are 
sometimes believed to leturn and haunt the vieiiiity of tiieir burial 
place. In illustration of this belief I saw a euiious eusttnu obserxed at 
the village of Kigiktaiiik. A hunter entered the kasliim biinging a red 
fox which he had just taken fiom the traj,; after skinning it the pelt 
was stretched and placeil ii, his storehouse. Tln'U he i-eturned to the 
kashiiu and, taking the carcass, carelully cut Ihe temlons of the fore 
and hind legs and a hole at the navel. Carrying the carcass outside 
he took it to the roof and, oi)ening the smoke hole, held the body over 
it. The men sitting in the kashim at once united in siiouting, ".iM-y/.'.' 
(he goesi AhvL'.' An-iil'.'" at tlie toi) of their voices. The carcass was 
then placed on the top of the hunter's storehou.se. so tiiat no dogs could 
reach it. The people told me that by this ceiemony the shade of the 
fox was dismissed either to the laud of the dead or back to the tundia, 
where it would be harmless. If this should not be done it might i-emain 
with the body and go about in that shape, doing evil to the hunters or 
others in the village. The legs must have the tendons cul in o,-derto 
keep the .shade from reentering the body and walking about in that 
form. No dog must be permitted to tou<-li or delilc the bo<ly f(u- fear 
of rendering the shade angiy. and thus causing it to bri,ig misfortune 
to the hunter. 

There is C(Uisiderable ditlerence between tiie ICskimo td" dilferent <lis- 
tricts in their manner of ,-egardiug the dead. At Uazbinsky, on the 
Yukon, the graves are placed .so close to the iiouses that they form a 
part of the village, and l,ecome excessively ollensive during summer. 
The s ,me custom is oliservcd throughout that section of country. 



4_>4 THK KSKIMo Aliorr IIKRINO STIJAIT ..ii aw.U 

W'liiMi tlif I'nnriii wa.s lyins: at the lu-ad »f Kot/t-biic s<miul :i Male 
Hint Im-k{;«'«I '" '•*' |>i'in'iit««l »" »**»>' "" "i^l't «'" Iwanl. bixaiise if he 
w«Mit i>ii hIh(Ii< at dusk lie wiiulil have to jtadillu by tin- ^ravi- «»f a man 
irln> liad ili<'il sj'veral \vr«'k.-« bilon-. 

Ainoiii: llif lower Yukon iM'opK- it is saiil that whiMi a iktwui dies lie 
can not •«••• ■•r hi'.ir aii\ tiling at liist, but wlu-ii liin ImmIj- is |>la<-<'d in 
Ilie ui;ive 1hi\ hi", shade iM-i-onifs ilairvoyant and ran sw all that pws 
on about him: then olhiT di-ad ]»f<)iil<- rome aiul jKiint out the road 
hadint; to the land of the shailes. In this eonneetion referenee is made 
to Die tale x\h;eli t,'ives all arcount of the return of a ;,'irl from the land 
of tlie dead and eoverin;,' the beliefs helil on this snbjert anions; the 
lower Yukon l')skinio. 

When the shade of a reeently deceased person beeomes eonseious. it 
ri^'s in form and elothin;: exaetly as in life, and travels alon^ the jtath 
that leads away from the j;rave. The road has many others braiiehiiig 
oil" on one siile or the other to villa;;es where the shachs of ditlerent 
aiiimal> are liviii;:, each kind by itself. In these villap-s the sha<lesof 
animals oeeiipy houses like those <d' human beiii;;s on earth. Finally 
the sliaib" arrives at a villa;,'e, when- it iselaiiiied by relatives who have 
<iied before, and is taken to a house where it lives an aimless existence, 
de|ieiidin},' on olVerintJrt of food, water, and elothiiifr made by relatives 
duiin;: the festivals to the deatl. 

Ihiriii;; ihis Jouiney from the unwv the shade has brou;;ht with it the 
t«mls placed by its ;:rave with the offeriiifis of food and water. I'pon 
these supplies the sliadi- subsists diiriiif; its journey to the other world. 

On the Yukon a man told me that on the road to the villa;,'e i»f the 
dea<l the .-^hade is offered water in a bucket, and if it attempt.s to drink 
from the Iar;,'e receiitacle without usiii;,' the dipper, the other shades 
clap the bucket over his head so that he is unable to drink. If a .shade 
disobeys the instructions of the shades in other ways they cause his 
trousers to slip down so that he can not walk, and they otherwise annoy 
him. 

The first cliil.l liorn in a viilayre alter a person dies is ;riven the dead 
(Hie's name, and must re]>resent that jierson in subseipient festivals 
which are ;;iv<Mi in his honor. This is the case if a child is l)orii in the 
villa-ie between the time of thedeath and the next festival to the dead. 
If thiMc 1m' no chilli born, then one of the jiersons who helited jireitare 
the ;;rave box for the deceased is given his name and abandons his own 
for that iinrpo>e. 

When the folival to the dead is given in which the relatives of the 
dead person wi>h to make olb-rMigs to the shade, the latter is invited to 
attend by means of songs of invitation anil by putting up sticks with 
the totem marks of the deceased upon them. The shade becomes noti- 
fied in this manner and returns to its piave box at the time api>ointed. 
.Songs of invilation ami greeting call the shaile from the grave box to 
the fire pit under the llouiof the kashim. where, in company with others, 



'■''■'°'' SHADES OK I'UV. I, HAD 40.-, 

it receives the ofterings of fo,,,]. water, an.i dotliino- t,„t, aro .ast on 
the floor. Then is ron.lered the s,,,,.- that anno„„,.os the ,,resenee of 
the namesake, at which the shade enters the form of that person 

The feast giver then removes the new suit of elothin- h.. wears for the 
purpose and plaees it upon the namesake, and in (h^in- this the shade 
becomes newly .lothed: the food olferings siven to the namesake dur- 
ing this testival are in tlie same way believed to be really -iven to the 
dead. When this cereiiKmy is finished the shade is disinissed 1)ack to 
the land of the dead. During tliese festivals the shades present, below 
the tioor of the kashim. are supposed to enjoy tlie songs and dances 
e(iually with the living. Songs and dances ])raising the exploits „f the 
dead are supposed to be especially pleasing to them. 

If a person dies without anyone to make a festival for iiiiii, or to 
obtain a namesake, he is forgotten and can never return to these festi- 
vals, but must live as the poor and friendless live upon the earth. The 
shades of all animals are believed to be formed like peoi)le, aiul many 
kinds are supposed to be able to talk with one another and at times are 
able to understand the speech of men. The shades of game animals 
must be propitiated in many ways by olferings and by feasts and 
dances, as in the liladder festival. 

It is believed that in ancient times all animals iiad liie power to 
change their forms at will. When they wished to become peoi)le they 
merely pushed up the muzzle or beak in front of the head and changed 
at once into man-like beings. The muzzle ot the animal then remained 
like a cap on top of the head, or it might be removed altogether, and 
in order to become an animal again it had only to pull it down. Some 
animals are still claimed to iiossess this ])o\ver, but when they change 
into people they become invisible except to shamans or otiieis endoweil 
with mystic powers. 

GENESIS MYTH — THE KAA EX FATHER 

The belief referred to is well illustrated in tlie raven tales, where the 
changes are repeatedly made by the cliaractters. In this belief rests the 
foundation of the mask dances of the I'.skimo. The creation of the 
earth and everything upon it is credited to the l!aven Father {Tu-lu'- 
kaiiyiU:), who is said to have come from tlie sky and made the earth 
when everything was covered with water. During a large part of the 
time be retained the form of a raven and changed to a man at will by 
l)iishing up his beak. The raven legends hereafter given rend.'r a 
detailed statement regarding this matter supertluous liere. 

It should be added^ however, that the part iilayed by the raven, as 
stated in the creation legend, is believed by the i;skiino from Kusko- 
kwim river northward to I'.ering strait and well around on the Arctic 
coast. Bv these legends it will be seen that the Haven came from the 
sky, where he had a father and where dwarf people were living, and 



\'2(i THK l>KIMO AIIOCT HKItlXi; STKAIT I tTii aw. 18 

tli:it liL< iiia<li- tliiiitjs nil i-iirtli so niiirli like tliosi- in tliu sky that tlie 
••liitiiiiiiiH Htill pri-ti-iiil to replace aiiiiiials on the earth l>y trips to tlie 
tiky laml. 

Thi- lir>^t niiiii ina<le on the eurth retiinieil to the sky laml. where the 
Hhailes of shamans ami people wlio are re<'uiii|>enHe(l fur a violent <leatli 
al><> t'o: the iJiiveii Fatlier is lH»iieve<l still t<j live there. I was itiforined 
dial the llskimo alioiit Norton soiiml pla<e frafjmeiit.s ot dried flsh or 
other IVhmI ill «lilVereiit places on the tundra as ot1erin<;s to the Haveu 
leather in the sky; in return for which he jjives them line weather. 

The Unalii say that to kill a raven will cause the Haven Father to 
become very aii;:ry and to send liad weather, and the- lower Yukon 
l''.skimo dislike and fear ravens as evil birds. 

Tlic coinmon mark symboli/in;; the raven is found upon all kinds of 
carvin{;s, ornamental work, tools, implements, and utensils anion}; the 
western Ivskiino, as ]>revioiisly described and illustrated. On the eth- 
nological s|icciniciis obtained from Point iSarrow and tlirout;li llering 
strait to Kiiskokwim ri\er. this mark is coiiimon. There is an ivory 
bodkin in tiie National Miisetun. broiit^ht from the niiuith of Mackenzie 
river, wiiich bears this mark, and I saw the same device tattooed on 
the forehead of a lioy at I'lover bay, Siberia (see lifjure lli>). 

The Haven I'ather. who made the land and everythintr ujion it, is the 
subiect of many tales in which he is represented as benelitiiitr man- 
kind. When he returned to tiie sky In- left on earth children like him- 
self, and some of these are the siibjeitts of numerous tales anion;: the 
ICskimo and :>.il jaceiit tribes of Tiiiiit-, in iiortlu-rn Alaska, These Haven 
children freipiently lifjure in their tales as boasters or in other discredit- 
able and absurd ways, and while the ravens now living are thought to 
be desi-enilants of the Haven Father, they have lost their magical 
powers. 

For a Ion;; time they were said to liavc retained their powers of 
clian;,'iiiH back ami forth at will from men to birds, but gradually lost 
these powers until they became onlinary ravens as we see them today. 

Many tliin;;s, such as physical features of the landscape, etc, con- 
nected with raven tales are pointed out as evidence of the Haven 
Father's former presence when the earth was new. Helow Paimiit on 
the Yukon is a Iar;;e l)lock of stone resting near the water's edge which 
they say was di'o]>ped there by the Haven I'atlier after he had made the 
earth. When he had placed it there he told the people of the Yukon 
that whenever lisii became scarce they must tie an iiitlated bladder to 
this stone and throw both into the river, whereupon lish woiilil become 
plentiful. 'I'liey say that one year, when tisli were vi-ry scarce, the 
shamans did this and when the stone and the bladder struck the water 
the latter immediately sank out of sight and the stone lloatcd like 
a jiieee of dry wood soino distance do'vn the river: then it returned 
upstream of its own volition, went to its former place on the bank and 
li.'-li immediatclv became verv numerous. 



NE.X.M AXIMALTI;AXS|.0RMATI.)XS— srPrUNAITKAl. I'MNVKKS 427 

Near St Mi.!,..! is an islan.l whi.h tl.o Kski.no say was n.a.le tVoa, 
the straw pad t,o.„ a hoot whi.-l, Itave,, ratluTo,,.-.. rl>row intotl.t- s.-. 

In the Raven tales it is mad., a point to .ieseribe the Haven as dresM'd 
m dogskin or other nuserahh- .uarnients, and he always ocennies a phu^e 
by the entranee of the kashini where the poor people are seated 

Curious transformations of people i„to beasts ar.. also believed to 
hav taken place. Anion- these may be mentioned the one -iven in 
the tale of Tn-kn' ku, wherc^ a woman became transformed into a red 
bear, and which also accounts for the manner in which these animals 
became ferocious. 

In another tale the red b.^ars ori;.;inated from an imaoe niade by an 
old woman near the Yukon. All animals are l)elieve(l to have elianj;ed 
from theorio-inal humanlike lieing, takiii;;- thnmshont life their present 
form, but the iiiini or shade is still similar to its former ajii.earanee. 

SrPKRNATtRAL PnWEUS 

Among the T'nalit, who form a typical Eskimo group of this regiim, 
the belief exists that there are different ways in wliich the person may 
be gifted witli supernatural jiower. Those who are able to foretell are 
called u'-hluhd'-Dri-i'il; -'the one who knows everything."' There are 
also peojde tIio are clairvoyant, besides wizards or witches who control 
supernatural beings or fini(/ltiit, and conjure by means of magic words 
and in other ways, and know the hidden properties of things. 

There are also peojile who possess the secret of making amulets which 
serve for various purposes. Occurrences out of the usual order of 
events are thought to be the work of some sui)ernatural influence. 
Those i)ossessing ])ower over the invisible world are usually men, but 
this power is sometimes held by wouumi. 

In connection with the belief in supernatural powers is an apparent 
mystic virtue contained in the numberfour. in the creation legen<l the 
It.'iven waved his wing four times over the clay images to endow them 
with life. The first man in the same legend slept four years at the bot- 
tom of the sea. The K'aven was absent four days in the sky land when 
he went to bring l)eiries to the earth. Th(^ Whale in which the Raven 
entered, in another tale, was four days in dying. In the tale of the 
Strange Boy, from the Yukon, the hero slept in the kasliim every fourth 
night. The woman in the tale of the Land of Darkness, from Sledge 
island, was told to take four steps, and these transported her to her 
home from a great distance. In the Bladder festival, witm-ssed south 
of the Yukon mouth, four men. representing four gentes. took a promi- 
nent part. 

In their original beliefs the Ivskimo have no conception of a single 
supreme being or deity, but their spirit world is made up of shades 
and lunqhiit, which have an existence quite independent of any central 
authority. At Ikogmut, on the lower Yukon, where the Kii.s.sians have 
had a mission for many years, the Eskimo call (lod T„n'.r,\r,;,i'-},uh, 



428 IIIK KSKIMO AHOUT liKRIMi STHAIT [ttu a^x l» 

or k\uv( til II -'I hi'iL, a iiiiiiic xvliich lias iiiKloiilitodly )>e<.>ii introiIticiHl with 
till" ii|p;iH i>f the whiti' mim's n-licioii. Some <if thcst- tiimjliiit are more 
iMiwert'iil than others, JiiMt as s<iiiic men are iixire skill'til and shrewd 
than others. Their iihMsot' tlie invisilde worhl are l)us<-il on conditions 
of tlie |iresent life witli whieii they are r:;iniliar. 

Thi'V have j;reat laiili in the power anil wisdom of the shamans, wlio 
are I lie hi^hi-st aiitlmrity, to wliom all qtie.stions of reli^^ioii and the 
mysteries of the invisible world are referred. 

.\nion;r the I'nalit and adjacent people of the IJerin;: >eiicoast the 
shaman is known as the tun' ijhnlik; at I'oint Harrow he is called 
nCi nlli hok. 

A man first be»-oines aware of jMisscssin;; sln^manir powers hy having 
his attention dra\\ ii to some remarkable eireiimstam-e or event in his 
life. Ilaviii;; notieed this, he seeiire.s the aid of s<jme old shaman, or 
practiees in seeret, to secure eontrol of siiflieient power t4> warrant 
annonnein;! liimx-If to the jieople. 

A noted shaman of the lower Yukon 8aid that he was lirst led to 
become such by haviii<; stranpe dreams and by fre<|Ueiitly liiidin;; him- 
self when he awoke at a diireri-nt jdaee from that in which he went t<) 
sleep, l-'rom this he believed that the invisible jiowers wished him to 
become a shaman, so he be{;an to practice and M>on succeeded in 
liecomiiif; one. 

Kvery fmi ijlialik, as the name imi>lies. is the owner or contndler of 
shades or sii|>ernatural beinfjs called /ior-r//i(i/.-, dual /h/i' '//uiA, plural 
tun' f/liiil. These beiiijis jxissess supernatural jiower, and the more 
of them the shaman subjects to his will the moix' powerful he becomes. 
I'liii' (jhiit are believed to be the personitications of various objects and 
natural forces, or may be wanderin;; shades of men and animals, and 
are invisible to all except shamans or people imssessinjj clairvoyant 
powers, unless they become visiole to orclinary jieople in order to 
accomplish some particular purpose. They have various strange forms, 
usually manlike, with tjrotesi|iie or moiiNtrous faces, such as are shown 
on many of the masks obtained in this re;,'ion. They have the juiwer of 
clian;;in;; their form; in many instances becoiuiii;; animals or assiiniin^ 
very teirilyiii;,' >liai)es. At such times if they render themselves visible 
to ordinary people the latter may be killed merely by the sij;ht of them. 

Hy their inliuence over these mysteries the shamaus may avert or 
drive away evil iutluences of all kinds. If llie evil has been luoducerl 
by some very )inwerfnl inliuence, through the ma^ic of a bad shaman 
or some wickedly disposed Inii'iilnik, the shaman must enlist the aid of 
others until, by their united power, they linally overcome the possessinj; 
Inn' ijliiik and drive it away. 

.Vmoii^ other exercises of their power the Nliamans claim to make 
Journeys to the land of the dead, and u|m)ii their return relate to the 
jieople what they have seen in that re;.'ion,and from this have arisen the 
ideas commonly dilViised anioii^' them on this subject. In addition to 



'•''^'•*"^' SITKIINAIUKAL I'OWKRS 429 

the tuHiihnt of inaiiimato tliin-a tlie sl.ainaiis can sec tho shades of 
dead peoi.le or auimals which are invisible to persons not soeciallv 
endowed. 

The shades of peoph^ or of animals fre.|ncntly cotne at the <-all of 

shamans, doing their hi(hlin.i;-. and sonietiniestiie shade of a (lead shaman 
will appear for this ])iirpose. 

The Inalit tohl me of a shaman who once lived among them and 
was aided by his dog, with whom he .ould talk, the dog being a 
titnijh'il: which had taken that form. A common form of tii»,il„ik is 
the i/ii-tt, or spirit of the elements. i)laces. and things. 

Along the coast of Norton sonnd and the lower Vnkon shaman.s 
sometimes cause the death of new born infants and afterward steal the 
body and dry it carefully, in order to keep it and have contnd of its 
shade as a specially strong inllnenee. On the Yukon I heard of an 
instance in which one of these men stole the dried body of an infant 
from another shaman and by aid of its shade became noted for his 
remarkable powers. When he died liis relatives were very much afraid 
of the small mummy and burned it. 

^leu who are not shamans, but who nnderstanil some of these things, 
will sometimes cause the death of a new-born child for the i)urpose of 
having the services of its shade to secure success in hunting. The 
child must be killed secretly and its body stolen, so that no one knows 
of it: after the body is dried, it is placed in a bag and worn on the 
person or carried in a kaiak when at .sea. One of the best hunters at 
St Jlichael had such a body, which he carried, wrapped in a little bag, 
in his kaiak. By careful imiuiry I learned that he had caused its 
death and then oljtained the body from its grave box near the village 
without the knowledge of the mother. It is believed that when the 
hunter carries one of these objects the shade of the infant, which is 
clairvoyant, assists its possessor in linding game and directs the spear 
in its flight so that the animal shall not escape. Owneis of these 
objects are extremely jealous of them and try to keej) their possession 
secret. It was by mere accident that I discovered the existence of the 
one just mentioned. 

At Point Hope, on the Arctic coast, a young nmn came on board the 
Conrin wearing a pair of gloves, on the back of which were sewed a 
pair of outspread feet of the sea parrot (Mormon (irciini). On ipiestion- 
ing his companions they said that he was a shaman, and once while he 
was tishmg along the shore one of these birds had alighted on his 
hands, leaviuu its leet to bring him success in salmon fishing. 

Shamans are greativ feared, and their advice concerning hunting, 
travelin.'-, and other matters of this kind is usually obeyed, but many 
failures on theii- part to give good counsel or to cure sickness may result 
in serious consequences. In the fall of 1S7!I the Malenml of Kotzebue 
sound killed a shaman, saying in explanation that he tohl too many lies. 
If a shaman is suspected of using his powers to work evil up.m h.s 



■\:,n TUK I;SK1M<J AltoUT IIKRINO STKAIT !tiMi.vx. l» 

l'elli*» villa;;(-rN lie i^ iilfto in (laiit^t-r of Itviiig kille<l by coiiiuioii cuiiseiit 
of (lir I oiiiiiiiiiiit \ . 1 lifard )>| Kiick iiivii Ifeiii); killed iti the rc);ii)ii lyiii(; 
bctMt-fii I III- iiiiititli> <>r III)- \ iikuii aiitl KuHki>k\viiii for failing; tu riiltill 
tlnii |iri-«lic!jiiiis and lor »ii*iR'ctf«l wiu-lirrall. Ubservain-i- of various 
lr.Hli\al.s aiitl lliu atteiidaiit rites are usually executed aeeordiii^; to 
iiixti ui'tioiix III' .sliaiiiaiiH, wlio learn l>y the aid of their mysterious power 
wh.ii i-. «<Tr|italde t<> the shades and the tunijluit. 

The moon is believed to be luiiabited by a j^reat inan-like beiug, 
uhieh t-oiitrols all the annuals that are i'ound on the e^irtli.aiid when 
a season ol' si-areity comes the shamaini pretend to \iu up and make 
olleriii^js to him. It tlic-y snceeed in pleii.siii|^ this beiii;; he jiive.s them 
one of the kind tif animals that have become iscarce, whereu]>oii the 
shaman letiiins with it to the earth anil turns it liMise. alter whith the 
s|ieeies a^ain becomes plentifnl. It is claimed that only in this way 
can the earth be kept supplied with K^'H'^'i owiiif;^ to the number killed 
by hunters and by disease. On one occasion at St Michael, at the 
l>e;:innin;: of the lull seal hunting', the old headman of the villa;;e was 
.seen to j,'o out .secretly and make fooil ollerinys to the new nuMin while 
he san;; a loii;; son;; of i>ropitiation to the spirit supposed to live in that 
planet in order to control the sup])ly of ;;anie. 

The shamans claim that the man who lives in the moon has a very 
bri};ht fac-e, so that they fi'ar tt) look at him, and when they come near 
they must look downward: for this reason twn usually ;;o t4>;;ether, 
since one alone would be abashed. On the Viikoii they claim lo climb 
up t<i the moon, but at the head of Norton .sound au old man told me that 
he u>ed to lly np to the sky like a bird, lu all this re^jioii the shamans 
claim to possess the power of visiting? the moon. One winter ou the 
lower Yukon, about the middle of I'eliruary. there was an eclipse of the 
moon, and soon alter throat disease caused the death of about a do/eu 
people. Two shamans, father auil sou, started to visit the man iii the 
moon to liinl out why the disease had been sent and to learn how to 
stojt it. The i)air were absent from the village several daj's, and then 
retuiiH'd and rei>orted that when they had climbed nearly to the moon 
the old man became tired and stopped for a while, but the young man 
went on. When he was near the moon the man came down to meet him 
and was very an;;iy, askiu;; what he wanted there; the young man 
was very much frighU-ned, but ti>l<l the reason for his ap)>roach. He 
was then told that the disease would kill several other peojile before it 
Would stop: :tnd the moon man was goiny; to keep the young fellow, but 
his lather begged so hard for him iVom below that he was |iermilled t<i 
return. 

On the lower Yukon and southward they say that there are other 
ways of getting to the moon, one of which is for ii man to put a slip 
noose alMiiit his neck and have the ])e<>ple drag hiiii about the interior 
of the kashiin until he is dead. At one time two uot«il shamans on the 
Yukon did this, telling tiie people to watch lor them as they would 



NKLsnM CONrKI.TlOX OK XATrKAl. niKNOMKNA ' .\:)l 

come l.a..k du.ino tl,e next bcnry season. When ti.e season .les,..nale.l 
Kul passed, the people of the village sai.l that one of ihe shan.uis e.me 
baek, eounns- a little ont of the ^nauui. lookin.u- like a .loll. l,„t h,- w.s 
very snn.ll and weak and there was no one outside tl„. |,.,uses :,t the 
time to I.e.l and eaie for liin,. ex,.,.pt some rhihlren. so ti.Ml he was 
overlooked ami went away a.uain. 

Nearly all epidemie diseases are sui,,,ose(l to eom.. Iromih,. n , 

but oeeasionally they deseend fn.m the s„n. An eelii-se of the moon 
IS said to foretell an epidemic, and the shamans immediately proeeed to 
learn the cause in order to jipi)ei«se the bein- livinj;' tlure and. by 
divertinj;- his anjicr, save the people. Am.m-'the inhabitants alony- 
the lower Yukon it is believed that a subtle essence or unclean iullm 
cnce descends to the earth durinu an eclipse, and if any of it is 
caui;ht in utensils of any kind it wdl iiroduce sickness. As a result, 
imnieiliately on the commencement of an eclipse, every wouian turns 
bottom side up all her ])ot.s, wooden buckets, and dishes. 

After an eidipse at St .Alichael the Inalit said that tlie sun had 
died and come to lile again. The lenstli of duration ol' an eclipse is 
said to indicate the severity of the visitation to follow, in Ihe village 
of I'aimnt. on the lower Yukon, in December, lS8(t, 1 overheard peop.le 
talking about a recent eclipse of the'moon and all agreed that it fore- 
boded either an eindemic or war. Some thought that it meant a raid 
of the Tinnc, living higher up the river, as revenge upon the Eskimo 
for having killed some moose the year before, the l^skimo evidently 
thinking that the moose belonged to the peojde in the region where they 
are usually found, and their having killed some of the animals would 
call for reprisals by the Tinnc. 

South of Cape Vancouver, at the village of tlhichiriaganuil, we were 
overtaken by a severe storm and, in or<ler to witness the rites. I ])aid 
a .sliaman to change the weather. After dark he knelt on a straw mat 
in the middle of the kashim and envelojied hiuiscll'. with the excci)tion 
of bis face, in a large gut-skin shirt: then, resting his knees and elbows 
on the floor, be uttered a long speech at the top of his voice. When 
this was ended he concealed his face in the shirt and madi> a great 
variety of grunts, groans, and other noi.ses. During this time two men 
stood on each .side of him and over his back jiassed a double cord, 
extending lengthwise of his body, with a stick fastened to each end. 
which was held fast to the floor on each side of him. When the .sha 
man finished making the noises mentioned a third man made a jtauto 
mime with his hands as if lifting some invisible substance from the 
shaman's back. This motion was repeated a number of times and then 
the two men raised the .sticks to which the cords were tied and circled 
several times around the shamau. constiintly turning their sticks end 
over end. and finally stopping in their tbrnier positions. The shaman 
then caused his voice to die away in the distance, after which he arose 
aud said that we would Imve a change of weather in two days. 



4;;2 THE K.SKIMO AllofT IJKUIXi; STKAIT (eth.ajix. 1« 

At till* villii;;)- of Si'ii;:iiiiu;;iiiiiiit, in tin* siirnc ili.strirt, aiiutlit-r sliainaii 
iitt<-iii|>fi-<l I" rliiUi^f the weather l">»|- iny l)eiielit as riilh>W8: lie |)Ht mi 
a fill Hkiii Nhirl ami was w'ia|i)ieil c-losely in a hir;;e Ktraw mat while 
Hi|itiittiii(; ill a sittin;; |Mi>ini'e on the llnor of the ka>liiiii. l-'oiir men 
HttMxl alxiiit him. and alter lie ha«l littered a ioii^' seriett of curious cries 
they wi-nt tlii'oii;;ii viii'ioiiM liftiii;; motions in unison as if raising some- 
thin;; iVoiii him. Then lolhnved >everal ventriloi|iiial voices, after which 
the old man waH iiiiw i apped and assured us of cood weather in twu 
da\s. 

At a villa^'e iii>t north of Cape X'aiieouver another >hamaii essaywl to 
eonjiiie thewcallii'r for me. lie knelt in front of the entrance, inside ol 
tiie kasliim. and held both hands beneath his ^nt skin shirt, rattling; 
it aboiii while he uttered various <-ries and noi>es. A voice was then 
made to reply to him from the passageway, after which he assured us 
of ^ood weal hei . 

At Chalitmiit, near the iiKiiitli of Kiiskokwim river, I arrived late 
one winter afternoon and found a ;;ras.s mat hant^in;; over the outer 
entrance to the ka>hiiii. Inside were two shamans at work on the form 
of a withered old man. who lay with elo>ed eyes on the deerskin in the 
middle of the lloor, eviilently too feeble to move. I'lioii two sides of 
the room stood a couple of men beatin;; slowly upon driinis. The sha- 
mans, dresseil in ;;iit-skiii shirts, were walking; about the patient with 
a vtrnttintr K':>>t- t':>ch hnldin;; one hand before him inside the shirt and 
the other behind him in the same way. rattlin;,' the shirt with both 
hands. The motions and aiipearaiice of the two men were ab.snrdly 
like those of two ;^anie cocks jueiuiriii;: for battle. Diirinj; this time 
they continued utteriii;j erics like those used by the other .shamans 
mentioned when doctoiiiifj the weather, .'-'•iiddenly they dro|i|ie(l iip4in 
th"ir knees, one at the old man's head and the other at his feet, both 
faciii;; him and utterin;; a series of shrill cries and hisses. LeaiiiuR to 
their feet after this they rejieated the cries, and two assistants came 
forward and went throujjh lil'tin;; motions exactly as the men had done 
to procuie j;ood weather. When they had done this the assistants 
each placed his arms and (lalms top-ther in tVoiit of him and then 
sepaiated his hands by draw iii;.^ one back toward the body ami push- 
ing; the other away from him with a slidiii;; motion. NN'itli this the 
performance ended and the old man was carried out. 

In another village, near tlieone last mentioned, I found a man standiii;; 
on the roof of a kashim. the door of w hich was closed liy a straw mat and 
;;iiaiiled bj" an old woman who tried to prevent my entrance. Passing; 
her I entered and siiiprised two shamans performin;: their incantations 
over a sick child. The people of the villa;;e were seateil around the 
room and the child was lyin^ nakeil in his mother's lap in the middle 
of the room. The sliamans aUo were entirely naked and wer»' circling 
about when I eiiti-rcd, but stoppetl immediately and the woman hurrieu 
out with the child. 



''''■'° POWKKS OF SIIAMAXS 433 

Oiicoiui<)nsiiH.tlu)(l(,rio;niiiiio-tli,w..,,„„. ,■ ,■ 
tlicslKunanson tlu.ph,in so„,| ,• t v; " '" '^r'"- '^ I" ="''i'-' "'y 

;;«:;:i:i:;«::;r;;,!;;t; ; 1 ;? 

In tl,esu,„,ne,.ot ,8si n,v intnp.eter rolks...l, a.^o last n ,.:,,, ,0 
^u on the Conn. w,tl, .no dnnn. „,., A.vtic nnis... savh," i " 

sl.am-.ms lux.l t«M ln,„ ,l.at wo would nover come back 

'>>'«;>; the peatest teats atfibute.l to the sha.nans is ,0 visit the 
and ot the dead and eon.e hack a.ain; in every district one ler^ 
tliose who, apparently ,lead. have I,een ,0 .hc land of the shades -u, 
returned. ' 

An old shaman trou> Selawik lake, near Ko./ehue sound, toi.l n,e that 
a 8ha>uan, liv.„s there n.any years ago, .lie.l an.I n.ade such a iournev 
When he returned he told the people that after h,s death hks sha.'le 
traveled for two days alonj;- the h.-n-,l, beaten path tornu.l by those who 
had gone before. During all this time he heard crv.ng an<l wailin-v 
which he knew to be the voices of peoidc on earth n.onrnin- for their 
dead. Then he came to a great village, like those upon the earth 
and was met by the shades of two men who l,.d him into a house' 
In the muldleof the room a lire was burning, in front of which were 
roasting some pieces of meat, stuck on shar)) sticks; in this liesh were 
living eyes which rolled about and watched his movements. His com- 
panions t(dd him not to eat any of the meat, as it would ho bad for him. 
After stopping here for a short time he went on and came to the milky 
way, which be followed for a longdistance, linally returning by it to 
his grave box. When thi' shade entered the box his body became 
alive, and rising, he went back to the village and told his friends of 
his ex])erience. 

The old shannin who related the foregoing said that once he himself 
had died and gone to the land of shades, remaining there until he 
became tired, when he returned to the earth and entering thi' bndv of 
an unborn child, was bom again. 

Another method the shamans claim to possess for visiting the land of 
the dead is practiced in the region south of the lower Yukon as well 
as about Norton sound. They pretend to be burned to death and after- 
ward to return to life. 

At the bead of Norton sound my Mskimo guides ixiinted out the grave 
of a shaman who had tiied to do this, and said that after being burned to 
death he had failed to return. The man in telling of it seenu'd to have 
perfect faith that such a thing was ])ossible, and said that many sha- 
niaiiscaused themselves to be burned to ashes and then returned to life, 
n<it even their clothing showing a trace of lire, lie added that the 
shaman buried in th(^ grave which we passed had made a mistal^c in 
18 ETH 1.'8 



4;U llir. j;8KIMr» AIIOl'T HEUINU .'•THvn (tni *nx. 18 

till- kiiiil nf \\iM>(\ ii>«'il !<ir tlif lire, or uoiiie otlu-r iieceHsury <>l>.seivaiii-f 
liiiil 1m-cii iii';:lc<li-il. Tlii.s wa.s known frmn tlie fiu-t tlint aftor he hail 
iH-cn burni-il liis body i'cap|>(Mri'<l uiiharnicil i-xcciit for a Riiiall burn on 
oiii- slionlilor, bnt he lailcfl to bttonie abve. Tlie l>o<ly was iilac-ftl over 
tin- pyic aiul a i-on*- of ii|iri};lit <lrift Uy^n raisf<l overil to mark thesnot. 
M,\ inloniiant aibU-il tliat when i)Cii|ilo jiassvd this K]M)t they always 
niailc small ol)iTiri;;s of ftHMl and other tlii!i{;H to propitiHte the xhade 
o( the Hhamaii. 

The f:illii\vin^' dfsciiptiiin <if burning; a shanian is from a villat;e 
sontli of the Ynkon month, and was obtained from a fnr trader who 
knew ihc cirennistnnees: The shaman ^.Mtlured all the villa^^ers into 
the kashim anil, after pnttin;,' on liis fnr eoat, told them that he wished 
to be bnrni'd and retnrn to them in order that he mi;.'ht be of {;reater 
8ervi(;e to the vill:i;,'e. He direited that a erib of dritt logs shonld be 
built waist hi^h, in the form of a sijnare, with an open space in the 
center, where he rnnhl stand, lie chose two assistants, whom he ]iaid 
bberally to attend to the tire and aid him in other ways. His hands 
uml leet were bonnd and a large mask, covering his face and l>ody to 
the waist, was put on him. Then the jieople carried him out ami .set 
him inside the cril), after wliidi evci yone except the assistants retnrneil 
to the kashii.n and the assistants .set lire to the pyre in front. Smoke 
and tiames rose Irom the logs so that the inside of the crib was reii 
dered slightly indistinct: the assistants called out tlie people, wim. 
when they saw the nni^k as they had lelt it, facing them through the 
smoke, were satislied. After they had seen it they were ordered to 
retnain within doors until the next morning upon ]>ain of calling down 
upon them the anger of the tinuiUHI. 

lniniediatel\ after tiic ju'ople went inside the assistants uid»ouml the 
shaman and sul)stituted a log of wood behind the nn\sk. while 'the 
shaman concealed himself near by until the next morning. Mean- 
while, the mask and tin- cril) burned to the ground. At daybreak 
the shaman returneil and, taking a couple of lirebrainls from the smol- 
dering ]>yre. mounted very ipiietly on the roid" of the kashim and 
sat by the smoke hole. The gut skin cover to this outlet was raised 
and bulging, as usual, from the heat within; over this translucent cover 
the siiaimin wa\ed his spark scattering lirel)rand, at the same time 
moving his f.-et about lUi its surface. The people inside could distin- 
guish the lire and the faint outlines of the feet and said. "He is walk 
iiig in the air over ilie windinv.*' When he was satislied that he had 
created siillicieiit sensation, ho descended, entered the kashim, and was 
ever afterward considered to be a great shaman. 1 was told tiiat this 
ordeal of lire was supposed to endow the i»er.son enduring it with the 
power to cast oil or assume the liodily form at will and to greatly 
increase his power in other ways. 

In adiiitiuii to other supernatural aids that are invoked, aniniets and 
fetiches of wood, stone, bone, or in lad almost anvthing el.se will serve. 



NliL,^. • 



TALISMANS AM) AMl'I.KTS 4;}.-, 

Frequently tlMMirtueis iiHiein,, i,, tl... .,l,i.H.t. Inu s,,n,eti.,K.s ,s s..;.un..l 
by means ot a shaman-.s power or ,l>e ai,l of one who knows. In a,I.li 
.on o the onl.nary ,«.,•„/../,. .,, fotieh. an hei,]o,,,u , .oH.k) n.a v l.eeon.e 
a tM by reason o{ „s extreme a-e an.l lony- possession i„ one familv 
fench objects are treasured and are hamle.l down IVom, lather to son 
They are supposed to be endowed with reason an.l to be -Mlted with' 
supernatural powers to aid and protect their owners. 

With these objeets may bo classe.l sueli tliin-s as are n^ed for 
obtaining sueeess in the hunt-like the dried bodies of newborn 
intants already described, and others which are supj.osed to i.rote.t 
their owners from bodily iiijurv. 

Women wear belts made fn.m the incisors of reindeer taken out with 
a small fragment of bone, and attached scale like to a rawhide strap, 
overlapping- each other in a continuous series. When one of the.se 
belts has been in the family a Ion- time, it is believed to acipiire a cer- 
tain virtue for curing disease. In case of rheumatic or other jiains the 
part atl'ected is struck smarily a number of times Mitli the end of the 
belt and the difliciilty is supposed to be relieved. 

While at St .Michael a shanuui sent to nu' on one occasion to borrow 
the skin of a pine squirrel, brought from the head of the Yukon, which 
he used iu his conjuring to cure a sick man. and claimed to drive into 
the squirrel the sickness from the jienson afliii-tcd. after which the skin 
was returned to nu>. 

Another method of curing local pain, .such as neuralgia, toothache, 
or similar affections, is for the shamau to suck the skin over the spot 
vigorously for a rime, and then take a small bone or other object outol 
his mouth, showing it to the patient as the cause of the trouble. 

Dogs are never beateu tor biting a person, as it is claimed that should 
this be done the //()((( of the dog would become angry and itrevent the 
wound from healing. During my stay at St Michael a little girl four 
or live years of age was brought to me to dress her face, which had 
been badly torn by a savage dog. I told the father that he ought to 
kill sui h an aniund, to which he replied in alarm, •' Xo. no: tiiat would 
be very bad for the child; the wound would not heal." 

As a rule, married women are very anxious to have a son, and in case 
of long continued barrenness they consult a shaman, who commonly 
makes, or has the husband make, a small, doll like image over which 
he iHTfornis certain secret rites, and the woman is directed to slcej) 
with it under her jiillow. 

A Kaviagmut from Sledge island, who killed two men (ui Norton 
sound during my stay at St Michael, once came to have me cure some 
.sores on his back. When he removed his clothing, I saw that he had 
on a curious harnes.slike arrangement of round rawhide cords which 
went loosely about bis neck and, dividing on the chest and back, 
formed a loop under each arm. On inquiring the meaning of this, he 
replied that it was to protect him from his em'inies. This referred to 
his lear of blood revenge by relatives of the men he had killed. 



am; 



TIIK K>»KIM<) AUOfT UEKISG STUAIT 



Iiii:ii;fs aii<l masks an- iisfd l)y tlu* peoph' of I'oint Hat row to bring 
HiU'i-OHS ill \\ iialc liuiitiii^'. Ill ill! iiiiiiak attliat piaco I loiiiid twoiiiaxks 
of liiitiiuii lares iiioiiiitrd oil the iiiidillo of slightly <Te>L-eiitic boards, 
to faili of which was tictl by a sinew r«»rd a Hniall wiNxlen model of n 
rijjlit whalf. After eonsiderabln etVort one of tin* shielils and masks 
Hen- seeiired, but the owners absolutely refused to sell the others or 
any of the little whales, wliieh were well earvwl and about three iiu-lie.s 
Ion;;. The men saiil they were used in whale liuntin;,' ami they did not 
date to sell them as, if they did, they wouUl bi ing them bad lurk. 

Sniall earved images of fabiiloii.s iiiiinials arc sotnetime.s earried for 
the same imrpose. In Kot/ebue sound a young Malemut white whale 
hunter cjimo olV to the Conrin one day and 1 found hanging from the 
framework inside Ins kaiak. just behind the manhole, a curious woo<leii 
image about eight inches long and three inches in diameter. It was 





Fix. 1^ Fl1.>.Ii irum a Mulimiil l^uink ({>. 

sliajied as shown in (igure 150. Thesemihumati face, with holes incised 
for the eyes and nose. and the deeply cut tiioutli bordered by teeth, had 
two large, piojectiug tusks, whiih with the teeth were made of walrus 
ivory. Extending lengthwise along the abdoineii was a huig, dee]) slit 
like ii mouth, with a row of jieg like ivory teeth along its edges. Held 
by the teeth in this mouth was the rudely earved wooden figure of a 
white whale. I tried to buy the image, but the owner seemed to be 
alai nied when he found tliat I hail diseovered it, and said he would die 
if he parted with it; thereupon I handed the image back to him and 
he qiiiekly went ashore and hid il, after wliieh he returned to the vessel. 
The images ami let ielies used in hunting are suppo.sed to wateli for 
game and, by some elairvoyant i»ower, to see it at a great distance; the 
hunter is thin guided by the Inliueme of the fetirli to liiid it. They 
are als«> siii>posed to guide the spears so that tliey will be c-ast straight. 



T.ALI8.MANS AM) AMII.KTS 



437 



Sou,oti,n,.s the inllueiK.c of the ainul.-i .„■ r,.,i,.|, is M.m„....,i , , • 
the yaine to the hunter. >"I-|m'>«'.1 to l.nng 

Amony the peoph. of Kaviak ,u.,.ins„h. a„.l K„„.i,„, ,„,.,„, , ,,«,,.. 
o^ the eorun... won.el, which is sai.l to l.e one of the totem a, N^ 
the Ksknno, ,s very highly pri.e.l as a fetich. The bo.lv is .hie. tie 
a.Hl .s worn on the belt or carrie.l in a ,..>u..h by bovs an.l v.. n, e^^ 
l..r tb.s purpose they are valu.-.l at the price .>f a n.arten" skin? Ti e 
posse.ss.on ot these w.-asel nunnmies is snppos.nl to en.h.w their ..wners 
with agility an.l prowess as hunters. In all cases it follows that the 
owner of a n.ummy of any animal ..r ..f a chil.l ,,„Ties with it „„w r 
over Its shaile, which bee...nes the servant ..f the possessor 

The hunter is believe.l t.. be able to propitiate an.l cntrol to a ..crtain 
extent the shades of .sea animals wlm^h he kills by keeping them with 
their bUul.lers an.l. after the cerein.,ni..s an.l ..Herings describe.l in the 
Blad.ler feast, dismissing them back to the sea to reenter other animals 
of th.'ir kind and so return that he may be able f.) kill them a..ain In 
this way the hunter is believed to be able t.. pr.)cure ni<,r.' -ame than 
w.ml.l be possible were he to allow the shades of th.. animals kill...l to 
go to the land of the dea.l or to wan.ler freely. 

The same belief extends to inanimate objects. When a hunt<>r .s.^lls 
furs it is a common custom for him to cut a small fragment from .'ach 
skin, usually from the .'iid of the nose, and place it carefully in a p.ju.-ii. 
If he sells a seal entire he must cut off the tij) of its t.mguo and swallow 
it, an.l .sometimes I saw natives swall.iw fragments from skins they were 
selling to the traders. Fragments are even cut fr.)m garments that 
they sell, a minute portion being retained in an amulet pou.'li. In 
retaining the.se pieces it is believed that the pos.sessor keeps the ess.-ii- 
tial essence or sjiirit of the entire article, an.l is thus crtain t.) l)(!.-.)nio 
possessed, through its agency, of another .)f the same kin.l. Sli.)uld he 
neglect to do this in any of the foregoing .uises the .)bje.-ts .lispos.'.l of 
would be gone forever, and alth.)Ugli h.' might get articles of the same 
kin.l, he would obtain fewer than if he had kept the fragment. 

In the same manner offerings .)f small i)article.s of food an.l a little 
water from the large .quantities distribute.! at feasts are sujiposed t.) 
convey to the shades the essence or es.sential jjarts .)f the .'utirc am. unit. 
In two of the tales it is relateil that small pie.-es were taken from skins 
and afterward these again became full-size skins, to the benelit of their 
possessor, thus in.Iicating the meaning of this custom. 

Ill the Kladder festivals seen s.)utli of the lower Yukon, whenever 
food and w,ater were brought into the kashim a litJle of ea.-h was .'ast 
to the floor and up against the roof as otlerings to the sha.l.-s of the 
upper and lower worlds. 

All places, things, and the elements are supposeil each to liave a i/iiit 
.)r mystery which is human or .semihuman in torm, but with gr.)tesiiue 
features which are invisible es.-ept to shamans an.l .)thers especially 
gifted. Hunters at sea and elsewhere in lonely places, wlien about to 



.J.'.S! TIIK K-KIM' .. 1 llKl<IX(i STIIAIT (tin i>s. l« 

iMt vn^i lUtuii IikhI and water ofleriiiK'* 'o '''® .V" " bt-lVire catiiij; or 
ilriiikin^ tliiMiisi-lvcH, ami often aild jinipitiatory wodIm. If olVciuli'd. a 
1/(1 II liiiH tli)> |MiM'fr of t-aiisiiif; a |iers<)ii's dfatli. or inakiiii; liiiii ill, or 
t;ikiiiu' .i«ay Ids ■.iircf.ss a.s a liiintcr. It i« also 1m'1ii'V<mI that many 
aiiimaN liaw stiiKMiiatural powers of licarin;;, it li<in(; <laini<-d that if 
liny an- spokon of, althon;;h far away, tlu-y will know it. In this 
ii'spn-t n-d ami Ma<-k lifars an* nun-h feared, and it ir^ said that if a 
man makes sport of hears or calls them by any disrcspeetfnl niekname 
or epithet, no matter where he is, the hears will hear and will wateh 
lor and kill him the next time he enters the mountains, l-'ur this- 
ri-ason a hunter who is {loin^out for hears will K]>cak of them with the 
;;ri'atest respert and annoiinee that In' is Roin^ for some other aiumal, 
so that they will he deeeivetl and not expect him. They never like to 
speak of what they intend to hunt for fear that the animals may hear 
and (;ive them had luck. < )n one occasion 1 was talking with my Riiide, 
u ho was piin},' reindeer hunting;, and spoke of his chances of success 
in secnriii;; deer; he appeared to he ollemled and rei)roved ine for letting 
the deer know what he wished to do. 

The heaver is another animal that is re;iarded as especially gifted 
witli jiower of learnin^r the intentions of ]»e()ple: it is also said to 
uinlerstand what a man says to it, ajid if a beaver is driven into a hole 
ami the hunter linds tiiat the animal holds down its tail so closely that 
he can not raise it, all he need do is to say, "Beaver, lilt your tail," 
whe;euiM>n the heaver does as told and can be drawn out easily. 

The dead bodies of various aniunds must be treateil very carefully 
by the hunter who obtains them, so that their shades may not be 
ol1eiide<l and lirin;; bad luck or even death upon him or his i)eople. 
This is illustrated by the various observances which were seen when a 
wiiite whale was killed liy an I'nalit hunter. No one who aids in kdl- 
inn ii white whale, or even helps to take one from the net, is permitted 
to do any work on the four days following, this bein^ the time during 
which the shade stays with the body. No <ine in the village must u.se 
any sharp or pointed instrument at this tinu" for fear of woumling the 
whale's shade, which is supposed to l>e in the vicinity but invisible: 
nor must any loud noise be made for fear of trightening and ofleiiding 
it ^^■h<lever cuts a white whale's body with an iron a\ will die. The 
use of iron instruments in the village is :dso fcM'biddcn during the four 
days, iind wood must not be cut with an iron a\ duiing tin* entire 
hea.soii Ibr hunting these animals. 

!>ogs are regarded as very uiu'lean and otVeiisive to the shades of 
game animals, ami great care is exerci.sed that in> dog shall have an 
opportunity to toucii the bones of a white whale. Should a dog touch 
one III' them the hunter might lose his luck — his nets would break or be 
avoided by the wiiales an<l his spears would fail to strike. 

One of the i)est hunters at .St Miciiael once let a dog eat a portion of 
a white whale's head, ami tin- people altribiitetl to this the fa«t that he 



AMMAI. FKTK HKS 



430 



took no more in liis net .hiring tbat .season. When ii,e bonesoI'M white 
whale have been elemu-.l of the liesh. the hnnter take.s then, t.. some 
•secluded spot, usually on dills fh.ntino- the seashore, wheiv -lo-s do not 
go, and places them there with several broken spearshalts. 

Not far frotn the village of St .Michael is a rockv, shelf like shelter 
iacin- the sea ami very dillienlt of access. In this i fouml over twenty 
white wiiale skulls and .skeletons, accompanied by numerou.s broken 
spearshaft.s, and in-ar by were other snmller but siniihir il.-iiosit.s. 
The lashings and liead.s of the spears had been removed, only the 
wooden shafts being left. Usually 
the spears were thrown down singly, 
but in one deposit a half dozen were 
tied together. 

Figure l.")l, from Aziak or .Sledge 
island, is a beautifully made graph- 
ite model of a right whale, eleven 
inches in length. It is deeply ex- 
cavated below and has a hole pass 
ing through the back to the exca 
vation within. The mouth and 
blowholes are indicate.! by grooves 
in the surface; the hole through the 
back serves for attaching a stout 
lawhide cord. 

1 was tdid liy the pe<ipl<! from 
whom 1 1 urchased this object that 
it was used in right-whale fishing as 
a kind of charm. The heavy image, 
hanging to the end of a stout cord, 
is thrown over the flukes or lli]»pers 
of the whale, or across its body, and 
draws the cord down into the water 
(HI the other side. Then the men manage to rcco\ei' the lower end of 
the conl by reaching below the whale with a Innu handle boat hook 
and draw it in to make it fast. 

1 hiring the whaling season at Cape Prince of Wales the handles n.scd 
for water buckets are carved to reju-esent the forms of whales, and 
small inmgi'S of these animals, handsomely carved from ivory, are fre- 
(ptently attached to the sides of the buckets. These images al.so (ignre 
in the winter festival.s, at which olferings are nnule to propitiate the 
shades of those animals. It is with this idea of propitiation that the 
weights used on cords for making fast to whales after they have been 
killed are carved to represent these animals. 

Figure 1.5li shows a hoHow wooden image of a right whale, fr the 

Dioinede islands, used for storing lancepoints, ami suppos. .1 to have 
certain occult virtues to aid in giving success to the owner. 




;i|illitB leticli 1IS..I 
rishinj; (alHiNt 



4111 



IIIK K>KI>H> AHOl'T BKIMXii 8THAIT 



.Vh-h*!' hliikh Ink is the L'lmlit iiann* for a n|itit <>f ;;riiiiiii| wlnn- 
•■(■rtniii lliiii;;.-* arc talxMH-d. or wImti- tluT*- is lo Iw iVariMl any rvil 
iiilliiiMii-f r.iiisftl l>y tlic |(i'i-S4'iici> ol'olli-iiilcd sliailes of iiii-ii or animals, 
or rliioii;,'li tlu' iiilliieiicr of other suinTiiatural iiicaiis. This (^|'<,(||„| 
IS soiiiftiiiirs roii>ii|iMi-<l iiiii'Icaii. ami to co U|M(n it woiihl briiiK mis 
lorniiu- to tin- oIlrinhT, pnxliiciiiji Hickiiess, dcatli.or lack ol"8iicc*s» in 
huiitiii;i or lishiiif;. The same term is also ai>|ili«'<l to ffroiuid wlierc 
(■••I tain animals hav(> 1m-cii kilh'd or have difd. 

I'ndcr till- latter i-irranistaiii-f llio ;;roiiii<l is not conBitlercil danger- 
ous niilfs> a |M'rson pfrforins tluMc some forbi<lden act. Tlu; ;;round 
aliont the plaeeon the shore where a dead \vliit«' whale has been beaehed 
is so re;,Mrded. At sneh a time to chop wood with an iron ax is snp- 
posid to prodnee death. The same resnit is said to follow the enttinfj 
of w.Mid with an iron ax near wheie salmon are beinji dressed. 

An ohl man at St Michael told me that he knew of a ease in which 
an llskiinc) began to clmp a log near a woman wlio was splitting salmon, 
ami both oftlnni died soon alterwaiil. The can.se of this, he said, was 
that the ihiki of the saliuun and the .1/1/ «i of the ground did not like 

it ami became angry. 
When olVeiises of this 
kind are cominittetl ev- 
ery one present is sup- 
l)Osed to die. If one .ir 
more jieople die sudden- 
ly of any strange or nn- 
n>n;d disea.se. the occu- 
pants of the dwelling 
immediately forsake it, 
saying that the ])lace is bad. 1 saw jihiccs of this kind on the Yukon, 
and a gronpof fonr houses were pointed ont on the shore of Kot/ebne 
sound tiiat had been deserted by the people because a woman had ilied 
there in this manner. 

This evil inlluenci; in certain spots may be brought about by witch- 
(•ralt, and while shamans may sometimes succeed in counleracting it, 
the danger is regarde(l as great and may even kill the piiests as well 
as other ]ieo])le. 

There are otln-r kinds of uncleanness w hich ar<- less serious, but whic.h 
produce sickness or bad luck in hunting. These consist of a kind of 
invisii>lc. impalpable atniospheie lilvc a \'apoi', which may attach itself 
to a person from some contamination. If a hunter gets in this comli- 
tion he becomes much more than ordinarily visible to game.su that his 
siu'cess in the chase is destroyi-d until he succeeds in becoming i-lean 
once more. Unring menstruation women are considered unclean and 
hunters must avoid them or bccomt* unable to secure game. During 
the perioil that the bladders are in the kashim the hunters avoid all 
intercourse with wonii'n. saying that if llu-y fail in this respect the 
shades will be otVended. 




1. 1S2— Whal.- f.'Urli €if woml ( ! 



AXIMAI. IKTK llES MYllUC AXIMAI,; 



441 




Lud(.aiiness.,C this kind may he removed in some cases l,v ball.in.- In 
mine. Somel imeswheii a man learns tliatlieliashe.-ome unclean he-ocs 
to ii orave and scrapes himself from head to loot will, a human ril),riius 
leaving the bad inllnence at the grave. This condition may he brou-ht 
about by witchciaCt, but usually it is caused by comact with some per- 
son or thing already unclean. In the Bladder feast the 
llaines of wild ijarsnip stalks are sujiposed to purify 
the bladders and thereby prevent any inllnence of this 
kind. At the .same time they are believed to remove 
from the liunters the inlluence that may have attected 
them from their association with so ninny shades or 
iiiKax. 

In a case that came to my notice one autumn 

Norton .sound, a .^lalemut woman was ill for .several 
inontlLS with some uterine trouble, and neither her 
hu.sbarid nor other male relative would enter her 
hou.se during the entire jieriod, saying that if they 
did so they would become unclean and could kill no 
more game. 

The object illustrated in tiguie l.'}.'! is a grotesfiue 
wooden bead about three and a half inches long, 
with the nose of an ermine skin fastened on its fore- 
bead and extending thence backward and falling 
down behind, with the tail and hind feet as jiendant.s. 
A strip of bear skin on the back of the bead furnishes 
long liair to represent that of a liumau being. The 
features are grotesquely carved, with ])rojecting brow, 
S(juarely cut nose, deeply incised, triangular eyes, and 
a eresceutic, upturned month. A ])air of incisors of 
some rodent project from the upper Jaw. curving out- 
ward and down over the mouth. The face is painted 
<lark reil, except the area about the mouth, which is blackened with 
gnin, ill which are .set the teeth. Tin; neck has a round hole in its 
lower end, ajiparently for re(-eiving a peg upon which the image was 
phuted. This object was used by a shaman to rei)resent one of liis titn- 
f/Iu'it. by whose aid he claimed to accomplish his mysterious works. 

MYTHIC ANIMALS 

The Unalit and other Eskimo of this region believe in the existence 
of various fabulous monsters, some of the mo.st important of which are 
described below. It will be noted that the majority of these beasts 
are api)areiitly derived from traditional acc(mnts of existing animals 
or their rei- •. ■-, .some of which have already been treated in the chap- 
ter relating to iiiask.s. 

It is said that there are sometimes born, among other beings, mou- 
strous children which begin to devour their mother's breasts as soon as 




I<"!G. 153— Sltaiii.-ii 
iloll tViirh tki. 



112 THK KSKIM IIKKIXU 8TKAIT [Ezn xny. l» 

ilii-s'an- iiiatli- iiiiiut-Mc. One was <leHcribi-<l to me as liaviii;; lieeii born 
ai l"ikniil.ialik many years ii;;o; it <le\«»ure<l it»» niotbers breast. au<I 
wlien till- iii-ople ran uito ibe bouse in resjMinse to ber eries tbe ebild 
e.si:i|>e<l (bron^b tbe Hinoko bole in tbe rofif. NVben tbey followetl it 
i.iit>iiilr, it was seen sittiii;; between tbe boriia of a reindeer, riilin;; 
touaiil tiie Miountaiiis, wbere it (lisajipeared. 

<»tb<r riirions beinjis are believed by tlie jieople of tbe lower Yukon 
to exist in tbe iniHMi, but are said sometimes to be found on tbe eartb. 
Tlies4> are man like creatures witbout bead or neek, but iiavin^ a Itroad 
moutb, aruu'd \\itb sbarp teetb. across tbe obest. A W(M)den ima;;e of 
one of tbese was oblnined by me. but it bas sini*e been lost. 

Tbe ihmi l;iik is said to be a Iarf;e. slimy, b-atberyskin sea aninnd 
witb four Ion;; arms; it is very fierce anil seizes u biinter in bis kaiak 
at M-a, dra^;;in;: botb under tbe watei-. Wben it i>ursues a man it i» 
useless lor bim to try to eseai)e, for if be t;ets upon tbe ice tbe beast 
will swim below and burst i\\> under bis feet; sbould be reaeli tbe 
sbore tbe creature will swim tliniu^b tbe eartb in pursuit as easily as 
tbrou;,'b tbe water. 

Near St Micli;iel tbe i)coi)li' believe tbat lliese creatures swim from 
tbe sea up tbrou;;li tbe land to some land locked lakes in tin- craters of 
extinct volcanoes and to similar inland places. .Several »lry lakebe<l8 
were sliown to me in tbat vicinity as baviiif; been drained by tlie.se ani- 
mals wben tbey swam ont to the sea. leavin;; a cbannel ma<le by tbeir 
])assa^'e tlirougb tlie eai tli. It is said tbat if tbe limi'kiik returns tbe 
water follows from tbe sea and a};ain Jills tbe lake. Tlie idea of tliis 
creature may b;ive bad its orij^in in tbe o<'topus. 

W'i' li'i-tjiioyi'ik is tbe sea slirew mouse— a small animal, exactly like 
tbe common slirew-mouse in size and api)earance, but it jwissesscs cer- 
tain supernatural powers. It lives on tbi; ice :it sea, and tbe moment it 
observes a man it darts at bim witb incredible swiftness, pierein;; tbe 
tlie of bis bout and i-rawlin;; all over bis body in a ummenl. If be 
remains )>erfectly i|uiet it disappears by the bole tbroufib wbicb it 
entered witbout dnin;; bim any injury ami, after tbis, be becomes a 
very sin-cessful hunter. If a man stir ever so little, however, while the 
animal is on him, it instantly burrows into his llesb. k"'uk straiybt to 
the heart and killing' bim. Hunters are very miuh afraid of tbis ani- 
mal, and if tiny chance to coine across a shrew nmu-ie on the ice at s a 
they stand motionless until the creature jioes away. In one case, of 
which 1 <;hanccd to hear at St Michael, a hunter who was out on tbe 
se;i ice in that vicinity diirin;; winter stood in one spot fir hours, while 
a shrew-mouse remained neai- liini. and tbe villai;ers all airrced that he 
had i\ narrow escape, 

Az'-iiriiii'iiii kiiiiiikh'-li, the walrus do^;. This animal is bi'lievcd to 
be found in company with lar/je herds of walrus, ami is very tierce 
toward men. It is a lon;r, slender animal, covered witb black scales 
whiib are t*ui;,'h but may be pierced by a ;: 1 spear. It has a head, 



'■''"■'°'''' MVriHC ANIMALS 443 

teeth somowbat like those of a do-, an.l to„r h-os; i,. ,,„| ,, 1.,,,.,. 
rouiule.1, aii.l sealy, a.nl a stroke Iron, it will kill a man. The ..eopTe 
of tlu' islands m Bering .strait tohl n,e that son.etin.es thev see these 
walrus do-s, and that their walrns hunters are verv n.iwh afraid of 
them: they also informed methatononeoeeasion a walrus do- attacked 
an umiak full of people and killed them all. 

The bones of the niainmoth whieh are found on the eoast eountry of 
Bering- sea and in the adjaeent interior are said to belong to an animal 
known as the l-i-lth/'-H-inik {ko-nuhh' p,',k of the Yukon). The creature 
is claimed to live under ground, where it burrows from place to place, 
and when by accident one of them comes to the surface, so that even 
the tip of its nose appears above ground and breathes the air. it dies 
at once. This explains the fact that tlie bones of these animals are 
nearly always found partly buried in the eartli. The Eskimo say that 
these animals belong to the under world and for that reason the air of 
tlie outer world is fatal to them. 

Ku'-fiat are the tnmihiit of lonely lakes; tlicy are scmiliuman in form 
and kill or steal the shade of any person found near their haunts. 
They have a loud, wailing cry and are much feared. 

The yua are the shades of inanimate things and the elements and, 
according to the beliefs of these ])e()ple, usually have curiously dis- 
torted, grotesque faces. 

The nun'-H-nm ijiin is the essence or mystery which is believed to be 
present in or near a lake and when it goes away the lake dries up. 
These iin-'it are believed to have the forms of men or women, and when 
visiting remote lakes people make food olVciings t() them so that tiicy 
may be piropitiated. 

Ti'-H'ikh-pi'd; the great worm. This animal, which figures in iiunieidus 
tales, was shaped like an enormous worm or cateri)illar. It lived in the 
days when animals were supposed to have the jjower of changing their 
foiin at will to that of human beings, and in the tales it is indifferently 
a worm or a man. Among the carvings in ivory representing this crea- 
ture were several having the body shapeil like a worm with a human 
face ou the bead. 

T-mi'ikh'pi-mi a-kbiu'-kioi, the sea weasel, flie Norton sound jieople 
described this as a long, weasel-shape animal lound in the sea. They 
say it has black fur like the shrew iiumse with a white patch between 
its forelegs. This animal is also known among people living on the 
islands of Bering strait. There is no .piestion that this myth has its 
origin in the sea otter, although the latter has been unknown in this 
reoi.m for a long period. Owing to its al)sence it has been invested 
wiUi various supernatural traits, among which it is said to bring harm 
to lonely hunters when it iinds them at .sea. To this same animal may 
be ascribed also the Imim' UnV-kak or )»vnn' pU.h-tiikh'rIu. a rare 
animal said to be like a laml otter, but which lives in the .sea ami is 
taken by only the best huuteis. 



144 



T\U: K>KIM<) AltiifT UKKINii 8THAIT 



f mum' hi hvhii ijii, xva tox. This iii deKcribetl uh beitiK Kiiiiilar in 
n|i|M>:iniii<-o to tiu- n il tox, l*iit it is Raid to live far out at Kca and is 
\rry rK-iK-, oltcii attackiii;; and killin;; liuntcrs. 

Ixnkirhiin 1/ ijhiit kiij ii In nik. Tlic killer wlialc {i\kh'lul) in tindoubt 
edly tliu original of this uiytliiu creaturt-. It is di'scribcHl as bt-iii;; simi 

litr in Inrui to tiic killer wluilc and 
W^ is credited with the pnwer of 

^^z^" ^^^^^__^^^ tlian^'in;; at will to a Wdlf; after 
^^MHIj^H^^ altiMit over the land it 

^^r ^^^^^rj '"■'>' '*^t'" " 'o the sea and ayain 

W lieciinie a whale. While in the 



IM I»r»«ili.;; ..f 1 



n|>u*ll« 



'" ■ wolf form it is known bj- the above 
name, and the Kskinio say they 
know that thisehaiiRO takes place as they have seen wolf tracks lead- 
iiiji to the eil;;e of the sea iee and ending; at the water, or beginning at 
the eil^'e of the water and leadin;; to the shore. This of e<Mirse results 
from the l>reaking away of a portion of the ieo on whieh the wolf tracks 
had been. 'I'hese animals are said to be very lieree and to kill men. 
The same [lower of changing its form is sometimes credited to the white 
whale, whii'h interchanges form with the reimleer, as shown in the 
drawing, reproiliiced in ligure 1.^1, on the bottom of a wooden tray Ironi 
south of the Viikun month. This belief is prevalent among all the 
Eskimo along the shore of IJering sea. 

A strange, crocodilelike animal, known i\n fmlrai-yiik. is painted on 
the sides of umiaks and on the inside of wooden dishes ^see iigurcs 
I.V1. l."i(ij by natives along lower Yu- 
kon and Kuskokwim rivers. A mask 
(plate xrv, ■'{) troin the tundra south 
of the Yukon mouth has this aninntl 
drawn down each side of the face. 
According to the traditions ol' the peo- 
ple in this district the climate in an- 
cient times was very niin-h warmer 
than at present and the winters were 
shorter. In those days the mythic 
animals referred to wen- abundant in 
the swamjiy country between the two 
rivers, being more common near the 
Kuskokwim, wheie the climate was 
more temperate than on the Yukon. 

In those days the wat«'rfowl an<l other birils came bai-k from the 
south in I'ebruary and the snow nn-lted during that month and the 
water ran into the passages of houses as it does now in April. .\t 
that time the ;>'(/•»•«/', i/i//.- lived in lakes, creeks, ami marshes, where it 
killed men and animals for food. Several of the lower Yukon I'skimo 
recounteil the killing of the. last one by a hunter whose wife the beast 




MYTHIC ANIMALS 



445 



had ,.m« ,t an, .levoun-l .hilo sl„. was ...„.„. wa.er ,n,m ,1 

InU.e taU..,t tl,.. ...oatu,,, l.y tl,. Uav.n.as ,l,e la, tor and tl... Ki.st 
Man were trayehng u, the ykyhmd, the Haven ..autionc.d his eo.u- 
panion not to dnnk Iron, the lakes whieh were ,,ass.Ml. he.anse i„ then, 
.veie annuals he liad made that would seize an,l desm.v any one who 
ventured near. These were the ^xW-nn' ]/»/.-. 

In the drawin-s of this animal on umiaks, at int.-rvals alou- the 
body are open spa.'es, inside whi.l, ar.. represe.ited parts of a human 
body, showmo- tlie belief in its havius eaten sueh food. It was said to 
live in the water, where it lay hidden amon- the -fass. whence it sud- 
deuly rushed to seize a pers.m on the haidi or t., attack kaiaks when 
crossing its haunts. 

The curious likeness of these animals to flu- alligator, as shown in 
the aceounts of its habits ami in drawings representing it, is very 
remarkable. Nearly all of the umiaks in the country of the lower 
Yukon and to the southward have a picturoof this animal drawn along 
the entire length on each side of the boat, with the hea<l near the l)o«^ 
and the figure is common also ou wooden dishes in that region. It 
appears to be a local myth, and can scarcely have been brought to these 
people since the advent of the whites. The country where this myth 




is most prevalent is one of the least visited of any along the coast of 
Bering sea. The accompanying tigure l.")!) represents a model of an 
umiak from the lower Yukon, with the animal draAvii along the sides. 

In one of the Haven tales a large beast is descrilied as having been 
seen liauiiting a dry lake bed ovt-rgrown with tall grass while Itaven 
and First Man were journeying in the sky land. It is said to have 
rested by lying down on the tips of the growing grass, without bend- 
ing the stems. When this animal was killed by the Sky people it was 
necessary for them first to place; logs under it, for when dead it became 
.so heavy that it would sink into the ground as will a lean seal in water. 
It is described as having a long head and six legs, the hind legs unusu- 
ally large and the fore ones short, with the small middle pair hanging 
from the belly. A fine, thick fur, like that on the shrew-mouse, is said 
to grow all over its body and is thickest about the feet. On the back 
of the head are a pair of thick, short horns, which e.Ktend forward and 
outward and then curve back at the points. The animal has small 
eyes ami is very dark colored. This undoubtedly refers to the innskox, 
which has been extinct for ages in the regi(.n where these i)eople live. 
■ TUl-'nu-uk'-pi'il; the great eagle (Thunderbird). This is described as 
an enormous eagle which varies in its habits according to locality. 



-u«; 



IIIE KSKIMi) AHOl'T UF:RlN«i 8TKAIT 




tU'er. Anion; 



The |K?oi>U- i«f IJcrintr strait said tliat it preys upon ri^bt whales. On 
a 8|M'ar rest uso<l in the Itow nf an niniak fplate rvid are ett^heil 
I'linr (>r iIh'm- binlH. two upon ea<-l: side. On one side the birds are 
i<'|ir<'.-.eiite»l as haviu}; their ehiws in the backs of the whales, which 

tliey are carryint; away: on 
- -K^L*. the other .side the liirds arc 

represented iis not y«'t hav- 
ing .sei/e«l their prey. 

On the Hhuro of Norton 
.sound the uri-mi-iik'-jnik is 
.said tocat«'ii eitherwhalesor 
reindeer, and ah)n;; t he lower 
Yukon it was reporteil to 
prey upon people and rein- 
the tales herein recorded is one from the lower Yukon 
de.scribin;^ thi! last pair of these birds whicdi were believed to have lived 
tliiM'e. In tliat district tlie tu|> of a mountain below Iko^'niut was 
jiointed out as one on wliidi these birds were said to have nested. 

I'late I'Vii h shows a handsomely etchcil ivory iiijiestem from Norton 
sound. The side represented in the illustration has several ;;roups of 
human ti(::ures. There is also a kasiiini with men dancin;; inside to the 
music of a drum; others are entering; throu;.'h the summer i)assa;;e- 
way above jjrounil, and others on the mof. Ne.\t is a man with a Iww 
and arrow shootin;; another who holds u sjiear upraised. The next is 
a representation of the Thunderbird seizinj,' a reindeer, followed by the 
fi'^ure ol' the hufi:e man worm, or tisilJi-pi'iL-, that li;,'ures in Kskimo 
inytholo;;y. <>therless important lij^ures are al.so etched on this sur- 
face, as is tihowii in the illustration. 

The small sciilpin, wliich is very common alon;,' the rocky shore of 
Norton sound, is called the rainmaker, and the Kskimu say it will cau^e 
heavy rain if a person takes one of them in his hand. 

Small fraj,'nu-nts of ipiartz crystal are said to be the centers of ma.sses 
of ice that liaxe fro/en harder than usual, su that tlii-i..ii -, \,.i\, turned 
to stone. These arc prized as amulets. 

I was told by a I'ur trader who was fa- 
miliar with the Niinivak islanders that 
the latter claim <lescent from a <lof;- 

l''ij;ure 1.">T. from Cape Darby, on ihe 
nortiicrn shore ol Norton sound, is an 
ivory carvinji '.i.\ inches lon;^, re])re.sentiii'; the hea<l and shoulders of n 
white bear and the bod_\ of a .seal. The bear has in its mouth an object 
wlii<-h projects upon cither side and is ;;rasped by the paws. This is a 
well made carviii};. ami is ))ierced lon^'it)idinally thi-ough the under 
siirlace for the pa.ssage of a cord. It was used as a handle for drag- 
ging seals and other heavy bodies over the ice and rt'presents one i)f 
the mythic animals of tlic pcojiic on the siiore ol Itering strait. 




I 1 ' ^ 



Y\f\ 158— Ivor>c«r\-(nsrritiv«'nliDj:tlic 
lunn-n-tinii <rtill nl/ri. 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHN 




UN0ERBIRD5 CATCHING WHACEi, 




(,_|VORY PIPESTEM WITH ETCHEP FIGURES '"'F THE MAN-'/.'ORM AND ^HE THUNnERBIR:' 

OBJECTS ETCHED WITH MYTHOLOCIC FIGURES 



MVIHIC ANIMALS 



4r 



Figure l.„S, from Cap. Nau,-..uver. is a .-arvino- .,f walrus i v.av. romv 
sentuio- a worn.-lik,. h..dy .n.-inl..,! by incised rin.s ,., n.pre^.nt ihe 
seyni..nts, wlu.l, ar. cnlore,! altPrnat..ly Kie..,, an.l ,..,1. ()„ ,1... „onl 
end ..f Ih." l.,Kly is repiescnt...! a sen.ilmn.ai, face. bel„u which pioj.rt 
two paws wRh lour liuoers or toes. The earvins tapers toward the tail, 
which IS narrow and somewhat tlattened. with a hole i,ienvd throu..!. 
for the admission oi' a cord. This object was used as a pendant oiPa 

woman's belt, and reiMcseiits I he 



iiianworm which appears in nu- 
merous tales of these people. 

Fijiiire l."»!», from Cape Van- 
couver, is a handsome little ivory 

carving- represent in- the lif;ure of a seal with the nu.uth of a lamprey; 

the UJiddle of the body is carved into two Joined links. This represent.s 

one of the numerous mythic animals supposed to inhabit the sea. 
Figure KiO, from Sledge island, is an ivory cord handle representing 

one of the mythic animals believed to inhabit the sea and to be liaFf 

white bear and iiall' whale. 



nl (full 




Jio ICO— Ivon il _ 1 II 11 I 1 



I'igurc Kil sliows a cord handle of ivory trom Slcd>;c island. It is 
carved to rciiresent a mythic creature, half seal and hall' human, that 
the Eskimo of Norton sound and IJering strait claim exists in the sea. 
They are said to be caught in nets or killed by hunters at times, and 
when this hap|)eiis the one who is responsible for it is ])resumcd lo suf- 
fer many misfortunes. 

Figure lOi!, from Sledge island, is an ivory handle for a whale float. 
One end represents a sealhead. ami the other tiie head of one of the 
uiermai<l-like beings said 
to live in the sea and to 
have the bead and shoul- 
ders of a human being, the 
remainder of the animal 
being like a seal. 

FiguiM'. !<••>, from Kush- 
uiiuk. is a carvin- of wood three inches in Icn-th. It represents the 
body of a seal with the head and ne.k of a human bcin;:. 1 j.on the 
shoulders incised lines represent hands and arms: a seal claw is set in 
the lower part of the breast and curved downward and back. 1 his 
object represents a mythic animal supposed to live in the sea. and is 
witliout definite use. Jt shows a lueruiaid-like creature, half human 




-us 



I UK K8KIMO AI«»UT UKUINt; STRAIT 



ami li.ill -•-.il. .!«'HrrilH-<l ;i.s haviiii; tin- up|iei- jtart of the Ixnly cov- 

rii-il uitli wliHf skill, "•"' ' !■ '■' •"• till- liea<l,;iiiil tli<" lt'g« ii'iilacitl 

liy a si-al's )i(Mly. It is a iiiythi- 

I lal (■uiieo|iti(iii couiiiioii aiiiung 

^' I In- wi'sti-ni l-^skiiiio. 

» Jk l'i;.'ure 1(>4. from ('a|H' \'an- 

^ ciiiiviT, is a i-arviiijr an iiu;li ami 

tliri-f i|uarterH loiij;, ri;iire«ciitiiij; 

ii,;iimi|,. a walni8. On tlic- brcii>t is a 

htiiiiaii face, inclosed witliin tlio 

front tli|i]ier8 ami liMikiii}; I'orwaid, intended to represent tbe features 

of tiie walrus hum. Tlie l)ndv is oniainented uitli (■(inceiitric elreles 






I- 



c\ 



.V'-;5 




DC rcpTTttontint; * i 



Fi'» lft4 — Iviiry ran-ing nbnwtne Iba fmc« 
Ufa » alma iuiia ifiillalu-i. 



witii central dots, made liy lillinj; round holes in tin- ivory with 

wooden plnj;s. The {jd'cral execution of this carving i> Nc-ry ;,'ood, 

the shape of the walrus, iiieludiiifi the tusks, 

nostrils, and small sunken <1ots about the 

mu//le, re]iresentin;.' l)ristles, beint; well re- 

l>rodueed. 

An ivory carvin;; (number 43717 , three 
inches in leufrth, from Nunivak island, rep- 
resents a seal's body with a man's head and 
nei-k. It is jiierced crosswise through the 
shoulders for the (lassage of a cord, and is 
used as a fastener for a woman's belt. Tiiis 
represents one of the composite animals 
which li;;ure in the mytlndogy of this rejjion. 

A carving, from Sledge island in liering 
strait (number ■l.">"J.'!(i), reiiresents a seal's 
body with a seinihumau face. It is jtierced 
lengthwise along th(« lower side for the pas- 
sage of a cord, is used for the same juiriMise 
as the specimen last described, and. like it, 
illustrates a mythic animal, 

.Vnother carving ligure 1.5">), from the 
northern shore of Norton .sound, i.s -1-^ inches 
in len;4tli, made from mammoth ivory, and 
represents a white bear carrying u])on its back theexteiideil figure of 
a man lying face downward with his head over the animal's hips and 




Kin. 164-Drn"liie "f mvllile 
• rralurv In ii u.^mIi n tray |(|. 



NK,.o., C.«CK,.TION OV NATrUAI. I'HKNOMKNA UO 

gras,.iug it nbont tl.o han,u.l,.s. I, is a s„in,...l cani,,.. illu.,r.,in.^ 
an incKhMil m ..i„. of the llskinm talcs. ^ 

Fij^un. Hm is ,.,,pi,.,l iv,„n a lij^nre paintci on tl... hot,..,,, of a woo.l.n 
trayCnn,,!...,. ASU12) ob,ai„c>,I at Nulnkht„lo,„„,ut. a,„l n,,n.so,.ts " 
niytlii.-al ,aoa,tun" .Icscrih,.,! in ti,e tales of ij.at r,...-io„ 

In the Rave,, tale are .lescnbe.l rei„deer Mhicir ...<;,.. ,Vo„, the sky 
a„d v.h,..h had teeth like .lo,s. These are said still to exist, l.,.t a.e 
n.visil.le except to sha,„a„s, who see the,,, o„ t],e ,.lai,.s a,.d describe 
the,!, as hav,,,,;,^ a la,-e hole thn.ugh the 1,ody. back of the shoulders 
I eopie supposed to be sifte.l with . lairvoya„t iwers so,„eti„,es sec 
and shoot at the,,,, believi,,- ti,cn, to he like other deer, but no ordi- 
nary weapon can kill the,,,. , 'aivin-s of tliese ani,nals we,-e sec, anx.ncv 
the people south of the Yukon ,noutli. " 

In the far n.nlh tl,e,-e are said to he ,„cn liaviu- (ails and two faces— 
one ill front a, id o,ie hclii,i,l. 



rONCEPTKiN OI.^ NATURAL IMIENO^M ,.:NA 

Tbe aurora is believed to be a ,^aoup of boys i)layin,>,' football, some- 
times using a walrus skull as the ball. The swayinj^ inoveiiieiit of the 
lights back and forth ,ei),-ese,its the struggles of the i)layei\s. When 
the light fades away the I'lskinio utter a, l,)w whistle, which they say 
will call the boys back. 

The galaxy is said t,, he the track made by Haven's suowshoes when 
he walked aci-oss the sky during one of his journeys whih; creating the 
inhabitants of the earth. 

The Pleiades a,e called the '■ Little foxes,"' and are said to be a litter 
of fox cubs. 

The stars of Orion's belt are called the "(ireat stretchers," being 
regarded as posts on which rawhidi^ lines are bei,ig stretched. 

The vertical bar in a parhelion is called the " Sun's walking stick," 
and shooting stars are termed star dung. 

Sirius is the "Jloon-dog,"' which makes high winds wiien it is ,,car 
the moo,,. 

TRADITIONAL SUOWKRS OF ASHES 

The Eski,,io have various tiaditions of occurrences long ])ast. One 
very old woman on the lowe,- Yukon told nie she had heaid I'elated by 
old people when she was a girl that showcs of , natter like ashes fell 
there very long ago. The (irst shower of ashes she lieai'd of was qnite 
deep, killing fish in the rivers and causing the death of many people 
by starvation. 

At St .Alichael a,i old ,uan iciated that befo,-e the Jtussians came to 

the country he knew of one fall of a strange substance like ashes 

whicdi covei-ed the giound like a slight fall of snow and adhered to wi,at- 

ever it fell upon so that when rubbed oil' from wood it left a i.olished 

IS ETH -9 



4o'> THE ESKIMO AlJOlT HEUISG STUAIT tm ^xn i» 

ii|i|H*.ir.iiirf. 1'lits iii:tii said tliat Kiicli sliuwer.s wi-rc known to have 
tak«'ii |ili«<i' at wnlely distant intervals and tliat jK-ojili- were very niiieb 
fri;:litened l»y tlii-ni. Alter one oieiirrtd they saved all the hones and 
iM-raps of I'ood, even the skins of animals, afl«T renioviii}; the hair, iu 
order to forestall tlie expeeted famine. l»urin;; the eold months of 
winter lullowint; one of these oeenrrenees the people ate every serap, 
.s.i\iii;4 the ilried li.-ih and Iti-tU'r food for s])rin(;, when tln-y feared 
another tall mi},'ht take plaee. 

'rhe>o ai-ronnts iindonbtedly refer to falls of voh-anic u.shes from 
ernptions takiii;; plaee in the Alentian islands and other jHiints in this 
ri-;:ioii, and are iiiti-restin^ as showing; the manner in whieh oeenrrenees 
of thi> kiiiil are treasured in the nienmries of these ]>eople. 

ANIMAL S\ M 

NVhen the lirst foxes eanyht in fall are lean the old men predi(;t a hard 
winter, and if the white ;;eese eommeiiee to lly southward early iu 
ant limn an early winter is expeeted to Icdlow. 

The names of birds and otiier forms of animal life used anion); these 
]ieo|ile an- fre(|iieiitly very expressive, as for instanee. the term applied 
to the emperor ;;(M)Se, whieh means "the lioo<led one," and the name for 
the ;:rass snipe ( Trinijn iiuiciiltitu), ealleil "the walrus talker" from its 
lioomin;; note, which is similar to that of the walrus. 

loi.K IAM;s 
srori; oi- ai.aska.n i-olki.oue 

The following; le;,'eiids are from \arious localities. The name of the 
]>laee whence each was obtained is given at the lte;,'inniiiK of each tale. 
The Alaskan ICskiino possess an almost endless number of tales and 
lc;,'eiiils, whicli express in many details their rcli;.'ioiis beliefs and eon 
vcy in an interesting form an idea of their aiieieni customs and modes 
of thought. In a section treating ol" their mythology are give notes tni 
the supernatural animals and other beiii;:s whicli are mentioned in the 
legends. 

These talcs are bi'st Iviiown by certain old men who entertain tlieir 
fellow villagers by rejieating them before the assembled peojde in the 
kashim. 'I'he l;a\en legends form a series of cult me myths, and are 
especially popular as atH-oiinling for the existence of all things. These 
have a widely-eNtcnded distribution, and I know personally of tlieir 
existence among the jicopUi from Kotzebiic sound southward around 
liering strait tollie monthof Kuskokwim river. The Ua veil myth al.so 
exists on the Asiatic shore of ISering strait. At Plover bay. Siberia, 
there was .>.eeii a Idv Id ^>l■ \- years of age who had the lavi-n totem 
tattooed on his forehead (tigiire ll.">]. 

.Special alleiilion is iii\it<'d to this scries of legends, wliich are so 
similar in cliaract*-r to liaven legends existing aiiiung the Tlinket of 



""'""'' ^"^"'''^ oi' Ai.ASKAX roi.Ki.MKK 4;,! 

soutlH.ist..n. Alaska. Th... talos appar.M.tly l.av- a .onmu.u sour..... 
11... ll.„,ul..,l,n-,l of tho Tiinkot als,, a,,,M.a,s i„ ,1... ,nvtlM,l..,v of the 
-hiSkiino, at least as far north as Jk'iiiij;- strait. 

Yoi.nji 111,-11 who have an aptitude forieaniinu tales l.eeonie iianalors 
and repeat them v..l,ati,i,, even will, the ae..Mnpanvi,ifj inlleelions of 
the v.nee and Reslures. On lower KnsUokwin, river and the adjaeent 
disfnet toward the Vnkon nioiith. some of the iniporlaidlah-s are -iven 
by two men, who sit eross.leo-ii.-d near to-elher and faeiii- earh .rtjier- 
one is the narrator and the other holds a l.iindle of .small stieks in one 
liiUid. The. tale jiroeeeds and at certain points one of thesi- stieks is 
placed on I he tloor between them, fornnn- a sort of chapter mark. 1 f t he 
narrator is at fault he is prompted by his eompanion. Some of the tales 
are l<ili<;-. occui)yinj,' several successive eveiiin-s in their recilal. Tiie 
narrators are very careful to repeat them in a certain set ].liraseolo-y 
witli repetitions in di'linitely determined ])!a<-es. When an erroi'^js 
made it is common for the narrator to uo back and ie])eal from some 
prominent inciilent. The voice is intoned to imitate the dilVerent char- 
aeters in a more or less drainati<- manner, and with tiie gestures makes 
a very elfective recital. The listeners are quiet and attentive, and at 
certain iiicid»>nts exiness by a word or two (heir feelinj;s of surprise or 
satisfaction. These tales are heard with pleasuri' over ami overajiain, 
fonniu,s; the unwritten hire upon which they draw for entertainment 
during the long winter evenings. During a sledge joiirney to the 
mouth of Kuskokwim river in IST'.I I was kept awake several iiiglits 
by young men lying in the kashim repeating for hours tlie tales they 
were memorizing, although the other Eskimo slept throiiiih it all witlt 
l^erfect indifference. 

lu addition to the more inqiortant tales, which are tiie ])roperly of 
the men, there are many children's stories. whi(di the women relate, 
lixKjuently entertaining each other a.s well as the children; these are 
short, simiilc stories and are looked upon as belonging peculiarly to 
the women. An examiile of these is the tah^ of the Kaven and the 
Marmot. 

A collection of tales from the shore of Bering strait would undoubt- 
edly .give valuable insight into the intercourse formerly held with the 
Asiat ic shore, the tale Ak'-ehil.--chu'<n'il: being an example in point. An 
old man relati^l this tale, at the sami' time drawing a ma|) showing the 
course taken by the brothers to <'ai)e i'rinee of Wales and across the 
strait to loast cape, Silieria. and southward along that coast until they 
found their sister: tlie villages were all marked and named, and 
the map, though rude, gave a good i<lea of the coastlines and islands. 

The tales of these iieojde seem to have originated largely from cer- 
tain distinct sourcis: there are tales of hunting and adventure, includ- 
ing voyaues ami incidents of the (U'diiiary life of the people which may 
Start from someone who recounts an episode in his life in a i.l.'asiug 
mauner, so that it is taken up and repeated, with various additions, 



452 THE K.SKJMO AliOlT IIERIXG STRAIT (mLA-vjt. U 

iiiiiiiily itf it («ii|KTii:itur:il ••hiira<t«M. ami liiially lietoiiies lixwl in the 
trilurf..lkIor.-. 

Aiiiitlii-r rliiN.i is iiia*U< ii|i ami re<-<>uiitiMl by thu KhsiiimiiH, or medi- 
ciiii' iiirii, always <lculiii»; with sii|M'rtialiiral powers and l>cin{;s, and 
an* intcn<l)-<l to inctcaKi- the piiltlir regard for them and tht-ir ability Ui 
d«'id uitii the shades tliat are Iteljived to exist everywnere, throil(;h 
till' |iro|iitiation ot' which tlie |iulilii- and itrivatc welfare is seeured. 
Many of their festivals have iindoiibttdly ori;.'inated from tides told by 
tlie •shamans re^ardin^' visions seen and instrurtions said to have been 
obtaini'd from sn)>eriiatiiral bein;,'s, while asleep or in a trance. t>uc 
sneh tale is that of the Yiniiik festival of the lowir Vnkon. 

ri.OOH LEGENDS I'KO.M ST MICHAEL 

The Norton sound Kskiino have a lepend that in the lirst tlays the 
earth was tliHiiled except a very hipli mountain in the middle. The 
water came up from the sea and covered all the land except the top 
of this mountain; only a few aiumals were saved, which escaped by 
;;iiin;,' up the monutain side. A few people esca]>ed by ^join^' into an 
nmiak and subsisting,' on the fish they eaii^jrht until the water subsided. 
l'"iiially, as the waters lowered, the i)eople who were saveil went to live 
upon the mountains, eventually descendin;; to the coast; the animals 
also came down and replenished the earth with their kiiiil. Duriiif; the 
tlood the waves and currents cut the surface of the land into hollows 
and rid;,'es, and then, as tlu- water receded, it ran ba4-k into the s«'a, 
leaviii;,' the mountains and valleys as they :ire to«lay. Legends very 
similar to this are widely si)reacl among other Eskimo ou the coast of 
Bering sea. 

TALKS (If THE UAVEN (TI-I.U-KAl 'CJtK) 



{ I'roiii Ki);iktaiiik^ 

The following was related by an old rnalit man living at Kigik- 
t;iiiik, who learned it, when he was a boy. from an old man. rragments 
and versions of the same tale were found among the ICskimo from the 
Arctic coast to the banks of Knskokwim river. The hij^t jiortion of 
this series of legends, describing the recovery of the light by Uaven, 
was repeate<l by l^skimo Irom Kotzebue sound, Norton bay, and Kns- 
kokwim and Yukon rivers. 

My narrator said that tl Id man tVom whom he leanieil it came 

iVom Heriiig strait, iind that always, when he linished the tales on the 
third evening, he would pour a ciiii of water on the lloor and say: 
"Drink well, sjiirits of those of whom 1 have told." 

It was in the time when there were no peojile on the earth jilain. 
During four days the lirst man lay coiled u|) in the pod of a beachpea 
(L. miiiitimiin). On the fifth day he stretched out his feet and burst 



"■"-'"'' KAVKX rKi;ATI()N MVIII 453 

the ,.od lallinjr to tl.a srouml. wLer. l,e s,o.m! „,,. a full ^r.nvu 
man. llo looked al,„„t l,i,n. ;ukI tliou niove.l his haiuls and arms hi. 
iK!ck ami l(-s. and (•xaniiii..d himsclfcuiiouslv. Loakiii.- hack h,- snv 
the i»h1 In.iu whi..l, lu> had (Villen, still ha„,ui„n- t„ Iho vin,..w,th a hi, It- 
m the lower eim. out of which he had dropped. Then he l„,.ke<l ahont 
Liu. a-am and saw that he was oettii,,;; farther awav from his .startiu- 
place, and that the Rround moved up and down under his feet and 
seemed very .soft. After a while he had an unplca.sant feelin- in his 
.Stomaeli, and he st,.)o].e<l down to take some water into his mouth from 
a .small ])ool at his feet. The water ran down iid,. his stomach and he 
felt better. When he looked up afiain he saw ai)proa('hiiis-. with a 
waviufi motion, a dark object which came on until Just in front of 
him, when it stoppi-il. and, standing- on the ground, looked at him. 
This was a raven, and. as soon as it stopped, it raised one of its 
wiujis, pushed up its beak, like a mask, to the top of it.s head, and 
chan.ucd at onee into a man. Before he raised hks mask Kaven had 
.stared at the man, and after it was raised he stared more than ever, 
movius;- about from side to side to obtain a better view. At last he 
said: "What are you.' Whence did yim come? I have never seen 
anything like you." Then Kaven looked at Man, and was still more 
suri)rised to tind that this strange new being was so much like himself 
in shape. 

Then he told ."Man to walk away a few steps, and in astonishment 
exclaimed again: •' Whence did you come .' 1 have never seen anything 
like you before.'" To this Jlan replied: "I came from the pea))od.'' 
Aud he pointed to the plant from which he came. "Ah I"' exclaimed 
Baven, "I made that vine, but did not know that anything like you 
would ever come from it. Come with me to the high ground over there; 
tlii.s ground 1 made later, and it is still soft and thin, but it is thicker 
aud harder there." 

Ill a short time they came to the higher land, which was tirm under 
their feet. Then Kaven asked Man if he had eaten anything. The 
latter answered that he had taken some soft stull' into him at one of 
the pools. "Ahl"" said Itaven. "you drank some water. Now wait 
for me here." 

Then he drew down the mask over his face, changing again into a 
bird, and tlew lar up into the sky where he disappeared. .Man waited 
where he liad been left until the fourth day, when Kaveu returned, 
bringing four berries in his claws. Pushing up his mask. Kaven became 
a man again and held out two salmonberries aud two heatidjerries, 
saying, "Here is what I have made for you to eat. I also wish them 
to'be plentiful over the earth. Now eat them.'" ilan took the berries 
aud placed them in his mouth one after the other and they satisfied 
bis hunger, which ha.l made him feel uncomfortable. Kaveu then led 
Mau to a small creek near by and left him while he went to the water's 
edge aud molded a couple of pieces of clay into the form of a pair ot 



-|'j4 Tin, KSKIMO AIHifT IIKKINO STIUIT rriiiM lii 

itiiiiinciiti sheep, wlmli In- liil<l in liis li;iii(!. uihI when they Ijociimu <lry 
he laUi-*! Mull to xhou' liiin what he had done. Man tliuiij^ht they were 
very |iit'lty. ami Haven toUl him to eh)se hi-; eyes. As simhi as Man's 
eyc-i wi-re rlosed IJavcn drew down his mask and wavini bis win;rs 
li.iii times over tlie iina{;es, wlieii they tK»eanic i-ndi>wed witii life and 
iHiiiiided away as fiiil-j;riiwn inniint^iin Hheep. Haven then raised his 
ma>k and told Man to Iiwik. When Man saw tiie shee)> moving away, 
full of life, he cried out with pleasure. Heeiu;; how jdeased .Man was, 
H.iveii >aiil. "If these animals ale numerous, perhaps ]ieople will wish 
Very much to ;;et them." And Man said he tiiou^dit they would. 
•'^Vell.■' sai«l Haven, '-it will he better for them to have tlieir home 
amonj; the hi;rh eliiVs, s<) that every one ran not kill them, and there 
only shall they he found." 

Then Haven made two animals of day whieh he endowed with life as 
before, but as they were dry only in s|K>ts when they were driven life, 
they reniaineil brown and white, and so ori;^'iiiated the tame reimleer 
with mottled eoat. Man thought these were verj' hantlsome. and 
Haven told him that they would be very sean-e. In the .same way a 
pair of wild reindeer were made and i)erniitted to get ilry and white 
only on their bellies, then they were given life; in eoiiseipienco, to 
this day the belly of the wild reindeer is the only white jiart about it. 
Haven told .Man that tlie.se animals would be very eommoii. and i)eopIe 
would kill many of them. 

'•You will be very lonely by ynursclf." said Haven. "I will make 
you a eomiiaiiioii." lie then went to a spot stune distance from where 
he had made the animals, and, looking now and then at Man, made an 
image very much like him. Then he fastened a lot of fine water gras.s 
on the back of the head for hair, and after the image had dried in his 
lianils, h<' waived his wings (tver it as before and a beautiful young 
woman arose and stood beside Man. "There." <Tied Haven, '-is a eoin- 
paiiion for you," and he led them back to ii small knoll near by. 

In those days there were no moniitaiiis far or near, and the sun never 
ceased shilling brightly; no rain ever fell and no winds blew. When 
they came to the knoll. Haven showed the jiair how to make a be<l in 
the dry moss, and they slejit there very warmly; Haven drew down his 
mask and slept near by in the form of a bii-d. Waking before the 
others. Haven went back to the cn-ek aiul made rl pair eaidi of stickle- 
backs, graylings, and blacklisli. When the.se were swimming about in 
the water, he called Man to see them. When the latt<'r looked at them 
and saw the sticklebacks swim u|» the stream with a wriggling motion 
he was so surprised that he raised his hand suddenly and the (ish 
darted away. Haven then showed him the graylings and told him that 
they would be found in clear mountain streams, while the sticklebacks 
would live along the .seacoast and that both would be good for fooil. 
Next the shrew mouse was made. Haven saying that it would not bo 
good for fiMxl but woiiM enlivt'u the ground and jirevent it fron» s»'eming 
barren and <'lii'erless. 



'""-■'°^' RAVKN CKKATIOX MVril 455 

In tl.is Tvay Unvon .•.mtinno.l lor soven.1 .lavs .nakin- hinls. lisho, 
and animals, siiowin.i;- tlicni to Man. and explaii.injr tlioir uses 

Aft.".- this l,e tiew axvay to tlio sky a.i.l was n-o,,,, r„„, ,1mvs. wlu-n 
he retnrned, hriniiinii- bark a salmon for tlie use of Man. "F.ookin" 
about he saw that the ponds and lakes were silent and lonely, so he 
created many water insects upon their snrfaees. and from th'e same 
clay he made the beaver and the nmskrat to frequent their borders. 
Then, also, were made Hies. nios(|uitoes. and vari.ms other land and 
•water inseets, it beinsi- explained to Man that these were made to 
enliven and make cheerful the earth. At that time the inosiiuito was 
like the house-tly in its habits ami did not bite as it does now. 

Man was shown the nmskrat and told to take its skin for clothin<i. 
He was also told that the beavi^rs would live alonj; the streams and 
build strong houses and that he must follow their example, and like- 
wi.se that the beavers would be very cunninj;- ;wid only goo<I hunter.s 
■would be able to take them. 

At this time the woman gave birth to a ciiild. and Itaven directed 
Man how to feed and care for it. telling him that it would grow into a 
man like himself. As .soon as the child was born. Haven and Man took 
it to a creek, rubbed it over with clay, and then returned with it to his 
stopping place on the knoll. The next morning the child was r\inning 
about pulling up grass and other |)lants which Kaveii had eauscil to 
grow near by; on the third day the child became a ftdl-grown man. 

After this Kaven thought that if he did not create something to 
make men afraid they would destroy everything he had mad(^ to 
inhabit the earth. Then he went to a creek near by, where he formed 
a bear and gave it life, jumping to one side (piickly as the bear stood 
up and looked fiercely about. Man was then called and told that the 
bear would l)e very tierce aiul would tear him to pieces if he ilisturbed 
it. Then were made different kinds of seals, and their names and habits 
were explained to man. Haven also taught JMan to make rawhide lines 
from sealskin, and snares for deer, but cautioned him to wait until the 
deer were abiuulant before he snared any of them. 

In time the woman was with ciiild again, and liaven .said it would 
be a girl and they must rub her over with clay as .soon as she was 
born, and that after she was grown sh(« must marry her brother. Then 
Eaven went away to the place of the pea vine, where the lirst man was 
found. While he was gone a girl was born and the pair did as they 
were told, and the next day the girl walked about. ( >u the third day 
she became a full-grown woman, and was married to the young man as 
directed by Kaven, in order that the cartii might be peojiled more 

rapidly. 

When Raven reached the pea vine ho fouml three other men had 
just fallen from the pea pod that gave the lirst one. These men, like 
the flrst, were looking about them in wonder, ami leaven led them away 
in an opposite direction from that in which he had taken the lirst man, 
afterward bringing them to linn la.ul close to the sea. Here they 



456 THK KSKIMm AUOL'T KKKI.NG STHAIT riiii». l. 

iito|>])0(l, itiid It^ivcii ieniaiiif<l with tlioiii a loiif; tiiiip, t(*aoliiii(^ tliciu 
liuw to live, lie tiiut;lit tlifiii li>i\v to iiiakf a tin* drill aiitl )>o\v fnun a 
]iic«'<- i>r (!r,v wiMxl and a mrd. taking; tlie \viM>d froiii the biiKhc-s aud 
Hiiiall IriM-s lie had caiisod to ;.'r<iw ill holhiws and sheltcrcil phu-vs <iii 
till' liillsidi'. Ill- iiiadi- for each uf the men a wife, and alsn made 
many |ilaiil> and liirds such an lVe<|iuMil the siuicouHt. hut t'l-wer kinds 
than hi- had inadi- in tin- land wlierc tin- lirst man lived. He taii(;ht 
till- men til niaki- liows and arrows, Ki>ears. nets, and all Ilie iiii|ile- 
nii-nts lit' the i-hase and Imw to use thciii; also how to (-aiiture tin- xcals 
nhii-li had now liecniiie pleiitil'iil in the sea. After he had taii;;ht them 
how to make kaiaks, hi- sho\M-d them how to Itiiild houses of drift |o;;8 
and bushes <-overi-d with earth. Now the three wives of the last men 
were all |ire};iiaiit. and Haven went back to the lirst man, wJiere he 
f'ltiiid the I'hildri-n were married: then he told .Man about all he had 
done fnr the people on tin- sea<-oast. Looking about here he thuuifht the 
earth >eemed bare; so, while the others slept, hi- caused birch, spruce, 
and riittoiiwood trees to sprinj; up in low plai-es. and then awoke the 
peojile. who wen- much pleased at seein;; the trees, .\fter this they 
were tau;;ht how to make lire with the lire drill and to place the spark 
of tinder in a bunch of drj' fira.ss and wave it alHiut until it blazed, 
tln-n to iilai-edry wood upon it. They were shown how to roast tish on 
11 stick, to make lish traps. of splints and willow liark. to dry salmon 
for winter use, and to make houses. 

Kaven then went back to the coa.st men a<;aiii. When he had j;one 
Man and liis son went down to the .sea and the .son cauj^ht a seal which 
ihi-y tried to kill with their hands but could not, until, finally, the son 
killed it liy a blow with his list. Then the father took off its skin with 
his hands alone and maile it into lines which they drieil. With these 
lines they set snares in the woods for i-«'ititlper. When they went to look 
at these the next morniii<;, they found the cords bitten in two aud the 
snares ;ione, for in tho.se days reindeer had sharp teeth like doRs. 
After thiiikinj,' for a time the youn;; man made a deep hole in the deer 
trail anil hung in it a heavy stone fastened to the snare so that when 
it cau;;ht a deer the stone woiilil slip down into the hole, drag the deer's 
neck down to the fn'i>»nd, and hold it fast. The ne.xt morniii;; when 
the.\- leturned tlicy found a deer eiitannh-d in the snare. Takiii;; it 
out they killed and skinned it, carryiii}^ the skin home for a bed; some 
of the llesh was roasted on the lire and found to be very good to eat. 

One <biy Man went out seal hunting along the seashore. He .saw 
many seals, but in each <-ase after he had crejit (-aretully uji they would 
tiinilili- into the water before he could get to tin-in. until only one was 
Icit on the rocks; Man i^rejit up to it more carefully than before, but it 
alsoesi-aped. Then httstnod iipand his breast scemi-d full of a strange 
feeling, :iiid the water began to run in drops from his eyes and down 
his far)-. Ill- put up his hand and caught some of the drops to look at 
thciii ;ind found that thev were reallv water: then, withniif anv wi.sh 



HAVHX CliEATION 



4.-) 7 



on lus part loud .-nes bo^an to Ln-ak .Von, lun, an,l ,1... u-a.s rau ,h.w„ 
us ftH.c as ho wc.,t l,o,„e. Wh..„ ,,is son saw l,i,u rouuu,. ho ..a.h.1 t 
lus xv.lo and „H,ther to seo .Man .•,„ni„^- alo,.^- ,„alcin^^ suoh a stran..e 
noise; when he leaehe.l th.^ni they were still more smpriswl to s..,. wat^r 
runnn.gdown his face. ACtcM-he told then, the story ofhis .lisapnoint- 
nient they were all strieken with the same stran.ue ailn.ent ar.d l.ei.n to 
wail with hnu. and in this way peoi.le lirst learned how to ,tv \fter 
this the son killed another seal and they made more deer snares tiom 
its hide. 

When the deer ean-ht lliis lime was l.ron-ht homr. Man tohl Ids peo- 
])le to take a splint bone from itsforele- and todiill a hole in tlielar-e 
end. Into this they put some strands of sinew trom tlie deer and sewed 
skins npon their bodies to keej) themselves warm when winter .■ame; 
for Itaven had told them to do this, so that the fresh deerskins driecl 
upon them. Man then showed his son how to make bows and arrows 
and to tip the latter with poiids of horn for kiilin.';- det-r; with them 
the son killed his first deer. After he had cut up this deer he ])laeed 
its fat on a bush and tiien fell asleep; when lie awoke he was very 
angry to find that inos(iuitoes had eaten all of it. Until this time 
nios(iuitoes had never bitten peo|)le, but .Man seolded them for what 
they had done and said, " Never eat meat a.uain, but eat men,'" and 
since that day mos(|i!itoes have always bitten i)eo]ile. 

Where the lirst man lived there had now grown a large \illage. for 
the people did everything as Haven directed them, and as soon as a 
child was boru it was rubbed with clay and so caused to grow to its 
full stature in three days. Ouc day Itaveu came back and sat by jSIan, 
and they talked of many things. Man asked Raven about the land he 
liad made iu the sky. Raven said that he had made a tine land there, 
whereujion Man asked to be taken to .see it. This was agn^ed to ami 
tliey started toward the skj^ where they arrived in a short time. There 
Man found himself in a beautiful country with a Aery much lietler 
climate than that ou earth: but the ])eople who lived there were very 
small. Their heads reached only to his thigh when they stood beside 
him. JIau looked about as they journeyed and saw many strange 
animals; also that the country was much tiner than the one he had left. 
Eaven t<dd him that this land, with its jjcople and animals, was the 
tirst lie had made. 

The people living here wore handsomely made fur clotliing, worked 
in ornamental patterns, such as peoi>le now wearou earth; for .Alan, ou 
his return, showed his people how to make clothes in tiiis manner, and 
the patterns have been retained ever since. Alter a time they i^auie to 
a large kashim, and went in; a very old man, the lii'st made by Kaveti 
in the sky land, came ont from his place of honor at the head of the room, 
(>pi>osite"the door, and welcomed them, telling the people to bring food 
for the guest from the lower land, who was his friend. Then boiled 
tlesU of a kiud which Man had never eaten before was brought t^) him. 



458 I 111; K>K1.M() AIIOIT UKUINU STRAIT :r™ ass. l» 

Itavcii tolil liiiii tliat it was fimii the iiKiiiiitaiii Khei-i> and the tame ri-iii- 
dei-r. AHtT Man liatl <a(*Mi iiaven Inl liini on atiniu tu sLuw hiniutLt-r 
tliiii;,'s u liieli lie lia<l made, and told him not to try to drink from any ol" 
till' lakes they mi;;hl jiass. for in ttiem he had made animals that wouhi 
•M-i/e aiitl destroy liim if lie went near. 

( »h the way they eame to a dry lake bed in which tall grass waH 
;;ro« iiifi (hiekly. Lyin;; niM)n the very tips of this ;rniss, whii-li did not 
liend niulerits wei;;ht, was a lar;,'e. strange l<K)kinp animal, with a Ion;; 
heail and six le^'s. The two hind-leys were unusually large: the fore 
legs were short, and a small pair e\tend<d down from the belly. All 
oser the aniiiial's Injdy grew line, thick hair, like that on the shrew- 
mouse, but it was longer about the feet, l-'rom the back of the lieatl 
grew a jtair of tliiek, short horns, which exteiuled forward an«l eurveil 
back at the ti]»s. The animal had small eyes ami was of very dark 
ci.liir or blackish. 

Kaveii told Man that when i>eople wished to kill one of tliesj' animals 
they first |»lace<l logs on the gioiind under them, for, if they did not, the 
animal would sink into the earth when he fell and be lost. In order to 
kill one of them many people were neede<l,and when the animal fell on 
the lr>gs other logs must be thniwn over it and held down, while two 
men took large clubs and beat in its skull between the eyes. 

Next they eame to a rouinl hole in the sky, around the border of 
whi<h grew a ring of short grass, glowing like lire. This, Uaveu 
said, was a star called the .Moon dog (i tjliii liiiii l.i midh'ti). The tops 
of the grass bordering the hole were gone, and Raven said that liis 
mother ha«l taken some, and he had taken the rest to make the first lire 
on earth. lie athled that he had tried to make some of this same kind 
of grass on the earth but couhl not. 

Man was n(»w t(»ld to close his eyes and he would be taken to another 
place. Ka\en took him ii|)oii his wings and, dropping through the star 
hole, they lloated down for a long time, until at last they entered .some 
thing that seemed to resist their course. Finally they stopi»ed, and 
Itaveii said they were standing at the bottom of the sea. Man breathetl 
(piite easily there, and Itaven told him that the foggy api)earance was 
caused by the water. He said. "I will make .some new kinds of ani- 
mals here; but you must not walk about; you must lie down, :ind if 
you become tired you may turn over upon the other side." 

l.'aveii then left -Man lying on one side, where he rested for :t long 

ti : tinally he awoke, but felt very tired, so he tiie<l to turn over, but 

could 111. I. Then Man thought, "I wish I could turn over;" and in a 
moment he turned without elVort. As li(< <liil this he was surprised to 
see that his body had become co\eie<l with long, white h:iirs and that 
hislingcishad become long claws, but he iiuickly fell asleei> again. He 
awoke, and tmiied o\er and fell asleep three times more. When he 
awoke the lourlh time Haven stood beside him and said, "1 liave 
cliaii-ed you info a white bear. How do you like it f '' Man tried to 



li.WKN CUEATIOX MVTIf 45C) 

answer, but conld „ot nmk.. ;, s„„„,l until the Kaven wav.-.l l,i. >n;,..i,. 
wmgover liini, when l.o repliod that lie did n..t like ir, for he would ha've 
to live .,11 the sea while his s..n wonhl he on the sliore. and he wnuhl 
feel badly. Then Itaven made a stroke with his win-s and the bearskin 
fell from Man and lay enipty at one side while he sat up in his ..li-iuaj 
form. Then IJaven took one of his tail feathers, phirin- it inside the 
bearskin for a spine, and, after waving his wing over it, a white bear 
arose. Then they passed on. and ever since wlilte hears have been 
found on the frozen sea. 

Kaven asked .Man how many times lie liad turned ov.t. and he 
answered, '• four." '• That was four years," said Kaven, '• for you slept 
there just four years." They had gone oidy a short distance beyond 
this, when they saw a small animal like a shrew-mouse; this was a 
u-i'-Uijho'-yHk. Jt is like the shrew that lives on the land, but this one 
always lives at sea on the ice. When it sees a man it darts at him. and, 
entering the toe of his boot, crawls all over his body, alter which, if he 
keeps perfectly (piiet, it will leave him unharmed and the man will 
become a successful hunter. Tn case the man moves even a linger 
while this animal is on him, it instantly burrows into his tiesli and 
goes directly to his heart, causing death. 

Then Raven made the a-iiii'-kul;, a large, slimy, leathery-skin animal, 
with tour long, wide-spreading arms. This is a fierce animal, living 
in the sea, which wraps its arms about a man or a kaiak and drags 
tliein under the water: if the man tries to escape from it by leaving his 
kaiak and getting on the ice it will dart underneath, breaking the ice 
beneath his feet, and even pursuing him on shore by burrowing through 
the earth as easily as it swims in the water, so that no oiur can escape 
from it when it once i)ursues him. 

Beyond this, they saw two large dark-colored animals, around which 
swam a smaller one. Raven hurried forward and sat upon the head of 
the smaller animal, and it became <juiet. When Man drew near, Kaven 
showed him two walrus, and said that the animal upon whose head he 
was borne was a walrus dog (az-J-wu'-gHmki-mukh'-li). This animal, 
he said, would always go with large herds of walrus ami would kill 
l)eople. It was long and rather slender, covered with black scales 
which were not too hard to be pierced by a spear. Its head and teeth 
were somewhat like fhr)se of a dog; it had four legs and a huig. round 
tail covered with scales like those on the body; with a stroke of this 
tail it conld kill a man. 

Some whales and gramims were seen next. Kaven told Man that 
only good hunters could kill them, and that when one was killed an 
entire village could feast. Then they saw the i-iniiin' L<i'hri-a-fi<i, or sea 
fox, an animal very much like the red fox, except that it lives in the 
sea and is so fierce that it kills men. Near this were two ;•»)«»(' tsni'- 
l-ftlc or i-iimm' pikli-tiihli'-rJii. the sea otter, which is like the land otter, 
but has much liner fur, tipped with white, and is very .scarce, only the 



460 TIIK KSKIMo AHofT ItKKINCi STRAIT ;miAJw. 18 

iM'.st liiintiiK Ik'hij; abli- !■> raptiin- it. Tli»-y ])a.s.sed iiiaiiv kiiitlHof lish 
iiud iIh'Ii tlif slion- rosi- bt't'on- iIhmii, ami ovi-rliead roiild bo wimi tlio 
ri|>pl<-s III! the siirl:u;i< kI' tin- \vat»*r. ••('lose your i-VfS, and hold fast 

to .'' Haiil Haven. As soon as hf liad doiio this, Man found hiinscif 

HtaiMiiii;,' on tlir shore iit-ar his homo, and waH very inucli ustoiiislicl to 
wi- a lart;o villa;;<' wliore ho liad left oidy u fo«- huts; his wife had 
iii-i'oiiir \ory old and iiis son was an ohi man. Tho peiiplosaw him and 
wi'li'omod liini 1iai-k. niakin;; him tlioir hoadmaii; ho was f^^ivon tho 
plaro of honor in tho kashim. and tlioro told tho ]ioo]do what ho had 
soon and tau;;ht tho youn^: men many tiiin;;s. Tho villaj^ors would 
have i;ivon Kavoii a soat liy tlio old maji in tiio |ila<!o of honor, but he 
rofiisi-d it and ohoso a Hoat with tlio hnm!>lo pooplo near tho entrauoo. 

.M'lor a tinio tlio old man bo;.'aii to wish to .sec tiio liuo sky land 
again, lint his pooplo triod to indiico him to sUiy w-ith tliom. lie told 
his oliildroii that thoy must not fool badly at his absonoe, and thou, in 
company with iJavon. in" roturnod to tho sky land. Tho dwarf people 
woli-nniod thorn, and they lived tliore for a Ion;; time, until the villa^iors 
(Ui tho earth had booonie very numerous and killed a ;;roat many ani- 
mals. This an;;ored Man and Kaveii so inucli that one nij^ht tbey tiKjk 
a Ion;; lino ami a ;,'rass basket with whioh thoy descended to the earth. 
Haven can;jlit ton n-indeer. which he jiut into tho basket with the old 
man: then one end <>{ the i-ord was fastened to tho basket and Kaven 
returned to the sky, drawiu;; it ui> after him. The next eveniiip they 
took the reindeer and went down close to Man's villajje; the deer were 
then told to break down tho first house thoy came to and destroy the 
jieople, for men were becomiii;; too iiunierous. Tho reindeer did as 
they wore told and ate up the jioople with their sharp, wolf like teeth, 
after wliicth they returned tu the sky; the next ni^^lit thoy came back 
and destroyed anolhor house with its people in tho same n>:inner. The 
villa;,'ers had now become much fri;;htened and covereil tho third house 
with a ini.\tiiro of door fat and boiries. When the reindeer trie<I to 
destroy this house thoy lillod their mouths with the fat and sour 
berries, which caused them to run oil', shaking; their heads so violently 
that :ill their long, sharp teeth fell out. Afterward small teeth, such as 
reindeer now have. ;rrew in their places, and these animals became 
harndoss. 

.Man and Raven returned tu tho sky alt«'r the reindeer ran :iway, ^I;in 
savin;.', •• If something is not done to stop jieoplo IVoin taking so many 
:iniinals thoy will eonlinui- until they have killed everything you have 
made. It is better to t;iko :iway the sun iVoiu tlieiii so that they will 
be in the dark and will die." 

To this IJavon agreed, saying, »• Vou remain here ami 1 will go iind 
take away tho sun." So In- went aw;iy and, t;ikiiig the sun, put it into 
his skin bag and carried it far away to a part of tho sky land whore 
his paienis lived, and it became very dark on earth. In his father's 
village Haven took to himself a wife from the maidens of the jdaeo and 
lived there, koei>iiig tho sun hidden carefully in the bag. 



' RAVKX C1;KATIo\ MYIU |m 

The people ,.„ on.-th w.t,. vory muH, tVi,l„.,„.,l wla-n ,1„. su„ ..s 
token away, and tvu-.l t.. get it l.a..U by ...le.in. Raven .iel, p... .^ J 
lood and tnrs. but w.tl.ou, elVe-.t. After .nany trials tl... people pn.pi.i 
ated Uaveu so that he let tln-n. hav. ,h. li,|,t Un- a sl.It ,in.e Tl n 
e would Ind.I up the sun „, one hand fo,- two days at a ,i,ne. so that 
the people eou d hunt and ,et foo.l. aftn- whieh it would b. tak.-n awav 
and all would beeon.e dark. After this a louj, time would pass and i't 
required numy ollerings before he w,.ul.l k-t then, hav li-dit a.-nn 
This was repeated many times. 

Itaven had livin- in tids villa;;,, an older brother win, b.-an lo U^^^l 
sorry for the earth peoi)le and to tiiink of means by whieh h.. eould 
get the sun an,l return it to its pia<v. After l,e had thou-ht a Ion.- 
tune he preteinled to die, ami was put away in a -rave l,ox. as was 
ciistouuiry. As soon as tlie mourners h.fi his -rave he arose and went 
out a short distanee from the vi]la,uv, wiier<. lie hid his raven mask ami 
coat in a tree; then lie went to the sprin- wliere the villaf;ers -ot their 
M\iter, and waited. In a slnu-t time his brother's wife came for water, 
and after she had tilled her bueket she took up a ladh' full of water t.'. 
driidc. As she draidc, Kaven"s brother, by a ma-ic spell, ehan-ed iiim- 
self into a small leaf, fallin- into the ladle, and was swallowed with 
the water. The woman eon-hed and then hastened home, where she 
told her husband that sin- had swallowed some strange thin- wlule 
drinking at the sprin-. to whieh he paid little attention, sayin- it was 
probably a small leaf. 

Immediately alter this the woman lieeame witli eliild, and in a few 
days gave birth to a boy, who was veiy lively and crept about at 
once and in a few days was runiung abmit. He cried continually for 
the sun, and, as the father was very fond of him, be freipiently let the 
child have it for a plaything, but was always careful to take it back 
again. As soon as the boy began to play out of doors he cried ami 
begged for the sun more than ever. After refusing Ibr a long time, his 
father let him take the sun again aiid the boy played with it in the 
bouse, aiul then, when no one was looking, he carried it outside, ran 
quickly to the tree, put on his raven mask and coat, and liew far away 
with it. When he was far up from the sky he heard his father crying 
out to him. -'Do not hide the sun. Let it out of the bag to make .some 
light. Do not keep it always dark." For he feared his son ha<l stolen 
it to keep it for himself. 

Then liaveu went home and the Haven boy tiew .m to the place where 
the sun belonged. There he tore olf the skin covering and put the sun 
in its place again. From this place he saw a broad path leading far 
away, which he tidlowed. It leil him to the side of a hole surrimiuled 
by sluu't grass glowing with light, some of which he plucked. He 
reuiembered that his father had called to iiim not to keep it always 
dark, but to make it partly dark and partly light. Thinking of this, he 
caused the sky to revolve, so that it moved around the earth, carrying 
the sun and stars with it. thus making day and night. 



4ij'J run h>KlMu AllUlT IIKKING hTKAlT (mi ass. 16 

Wliili- III- was st:ui<liiiU' flnse l»y tlie od|,'i' of the earth, 5"**t l>f'*'re 
siiiiii-r. 111- hliuk iiilK thf .sky » htineli of the glowinj: ;;r:iss that 
hi- h.lil ill his haiiil, aiiil it has stayed there ever siiire, foriiiiiit; the 
brilliant iiHiriiiii^' star. < i<iiiit; down to the earth he eaiiie at last to the 
villa;;)- « here the lirst |ieo|)le lived. Tlieretheold Jteople Weh-oiiied 
him. and he told (hem that Uaveii had been an(;ry with Iheiii and had 
t.tkeii the sun away, biK that hi; had put it back himself so that it 
wiiiilil never be iiiosed a(;ain. 

Anion;; the )ieo|de who weleumed him was the headman <>f the sky 
dwarfs, who had i-onie down with some of his |ie<i|ile to live on the 
earth. 'I'lieii the jieople asked him what had beeome of .Man. who had 
;;one lip t" the sky with Uaven. This wa.s the lirst time the Kaven boy 
had heard of Man. and In- tried to lly up to the sky to see him, but 
found that he eoiild risi- omI> a short distance abo\e the earth. When 
he found that he could not j;et back to the sky. he waiideretl away until 
In- came to a villa;;e where lived the children of the other men last 
born from the pea vine. There betook a wife aud liveil a Ion;: time, 
liaviii;; many children, all of whom became Haven people like him.self 
and were aide to lly over the earth, but they ;jradually lost their ma;;ic 
jHiwers until finally they became ordinary ravens like the birds we se»3 
now on the tundras. 

II.VVKN TAKKS A \MFK 
( I'roiii till- I'ualit of Norton nuiiiiiI ' 

I-'or a Ion;; time liavcn liveil alone, but linally became tired of tlii> and 
decided to take a wife. For this purpose he looked about aud notice<l 
that it was late in the fall aud that the birds were ;;oiii;; southward in 
lar;;e tlocks. Then Kaven flew away and siopp»-d directly in the path 
taken by the ;;eese and other wild fowl on their way to the land of sum- 
mer. As he sat by tin- way he saw a pretty younj: Hutchins };oose com- 
in;; near. Then he modestly hid his face by lookin;; at his feet, ami as 
the ;;oose passed he called out, •• Who wishes me for a husband f I am a 
very nii-e man."' rnheedin;; liiui, the ;;oose llew on. and Kaven looked 
alter her and si;;hed. Soon aftei' a black brant pas.sed, and Haven 
cried out as before, with the saim- result. He liHiked after her ami cried 
out. "Ah, what kind of people are tliesi-? They do not even wait to 
listen." .\;;ain In- wailed, and a duik passed near, and when K'aveii 
(-rii-d out .she turned a little toward him but pas.sed on. For an instant 
his heart beat <|uickly with hope, and as the duck jia.ssed, he cried. 
".Ml. 1 i-aiiii- very near then: ))erhaiis 1 shall succeed this time:" and 
he stood wailin;; with bowed head. 

^■eIy soon a family of white front (iee.se came aloii;;. consist in;; of 
the parcnls with four brothers and a sister, and the Haven cried out, 
" Who wislies me for a husband? 1 am a line hunter and am young 
and handsome." As In- linished they aligliteil just Ix-yoiid him, and he 
thought. ">'o\\ I will get a wife." Then he looketl about and saw a 



' K.WJ.N TAKES A WIFK 4,13 



and 



pretty win e ston. witl. a hoi. i,, it lyi„j, „..„■: ho ,,ida.,l it up • 
tnn.,n^ it on a lonj, grass s.en,. hun. it about his ,Iedc. .Us. .,s 
he had done th.s be ....shod up his bil, so that it slid to tl,o top of 1 
head hke a zua.sk, and he bec-anu. a dark^olored yonu, n.an. .ho'wau';'; 
up to the ( .eese. At the same time eaeh of the (leese pushed up its hill 
m the same manner, and they beean.e niee-lookin- people. Uaven was 
mucli pleased ^vith the looks of the oi.-l a,id. ^.in^ ,0 her. -^.ve her 
the stone, ..hoosin^- her for his xvif,., and she lu.ns it about^'her own 
neck. I hen all i.ushed down their hills, l,e..,min- bir.ls a.'ain and 
flew away toward tiie south. 

The (Jeese Happed their win-s hea\ ily an,l worked slowly alon- but 
Itaveu with his outsprea.l win-s -lided on faster than his party.'vhile 
the -eese looked after him, exclaimin,;;-, in admiration, - How ]i"l,t and 
Sraceful lie is!'" At len-tli Kaveii grew weary, so he sai.l. -We had 
better stop early and look for a place to sleep.'" The others agreed to 
this, so they stopped and were soon asleej). 

Karly next morning the (leese were astir and wi>hed to be olf. 
but Itaven still slept so heavily that they had to arouse him. The 
father Goose said, '-We must make haste, for it will snow here soon; 
let us not linger.'" 

As soon as Raven was fully awake he i>reten(led to be eager to ^et 
away, and, as on the day before, led the others with outsi)read wings 
and was greatly admired by his yoiiii^ coini)anions. And so Itaven 
kept on, above or in front of his companions, who made admiring 
remarks to one another, such as -Ah, see how light and graceful he 
is." Thus the party traveled 011 until they stopped one evening ii|)on 
the seashore, where they feasted upon tlii^ berries that weie i)lentiful 
all about them, and then went to sleei>. 

Early the next morning the (iees(^ made ready to go without stojipiiig 
for breakfast. Haven's stomach cried out for some of tlu^ line berries 
that were so jdentiful, but the (ieese would not wait, so he dared not 
object to starting. As they lefr the sea.shore the lather (loo.se told them 
that they would stoj) to rest oiic(! on the way, and the next stretch 
would bring them to the other shore, liaven began to feel very doubt- 
ful about being able to reach the other shore, but he was ashamed to 
say so and thougiit he would risk making the attempt; .so otf they all 
tlew. The Geese tiew steadily on and im. After si long time Kaven 
Ijegan to fall behind. His widespread wings ached, yet the < leesi' kept 
ou steadily and untiringly. Kaven Happed heavdy along, and then 
would glide on outspread pinions for a lime, trying to ease his lired 
wings, but to no purpo.se, .so he fell farther and farther behind. Finally 
the Geese looked back, and the father Goose exclaimed, '•! tliought he 
was light and active, but Ik; must be getting tired ; let us wait." Then 
the Geese settled close together in the water, and Raven came laboring 
up and sunk upon their backs, ga.spiiig for breath. In a .short time he 
partly recovered, and, putting one hand on his breasi, said, -1 liave an 



464 TIIK ESKIMO AltOlT IJKKIXG STU.WT :tTii ix.v w 

iirmwlifatl hen- IVdiii an ulil wai' I was in and it pains nie ^ri'atly: tliat 
in tli<- rrason 1 IVII licliiml." 

Al'li'f n-stiiif,' tlii-y wont on, liut tlio others liad to wait for Kavcu 
ii;;ain.an(l lii' n-pfatod the story of tin- arrowhead, whidi lie told them 
liad pien-ed liis lieart. Then he liad liis wife pnt lu*r hand on his brea-st 
til I'l-el i( sliakiii;,' alxuit. She did so. but <-onhl feel only his heart 
licatin;; like a haniinerstone and no sipi of an arrow|»oint, yet she said 
nothin;.'. Thus they went on, and a;;ain they waiteil for Kaven, but now 
the iiroihers be;,'aii to talk about him, sayiti;; anion;,' thenis<-lves, "I do 
not believe that story about the arrowhead. How i-oiild ho live with 
an arrowhead in his heart'" 

When they were rested they saw the far-away shore befori- them. 
The father (;iK)se now told Haven that they woiilil wait for him no more 
until they ri-aeheil the land. Then all arose and llew on, Kaven slowly 
llappin;; his win;;s, wliieh lelt very heavy. The deese kept steadily on 
toward the shore, wliih? Itaven sank lower ami lowi-r. pettin;^ nearer 
and nearer to the dreaded water. As ho eamo elose to the waves he 
cried and shrieked to his wife, -'Leave me the white stone! Throw it 
back t4) niel" I'or it contained magical i)roperties. Thus he kept crying 
until suddenly his wiii;;s lost their jiower and he lloated helplessly in 
the water as tlie tieese pained the shore. He tried to rise from the water, 
but his winps .seemed to be weighted down, and he drifted back and 
forth alonp the beach. The waves arose, and soon succeeding white 
cajis buried him until he was .soaked, and only with the greatest dilli- 
eiilty could he get his beak above the surface to breathe a little between 
the waves. After a long time a great wave cast him tipon the land. 
Then, as it (lowed back, he dug his ilaws into the jtebbles and only 
by great elVort tlid he save himself from Ijeing dragged back again into 
the sea. As .soon as ho was able he struggled u[i the beach, an unhappy- 
looking object. The water i-an in streams from his .soaked feathers and 
his wings dragged on the gTouud. lie lell several times, and at last, 
with widegaiiiiig mouth, reached .some bushes, where he pusheil up his 
beak and became a small, dark-colored man. Then he took otV his 
raven coat ami mask, hanging them on a bush, while he nia<le a lire- 
drill out of some i)ieces of wikmI ami sinni Icid a lire burning, before 
w liiih lie dried himself. 

no: kavkx. iiik wiiai.k. .\.\d thk misk 

[This tale is relatcil either sejtarately or in conjunction with the fore- 
going legend, of which it forms a j)art.j 

After Haven hail dried his clothing at the lire he chanced to look 
toward the sea and saw a large whale jiassing do.so along the shore, 
and he ciicd out, •• NVheii you come \i\t again shut your eyes and open 
your mouth wide." t^uickly putting on his raven coat, he drew down 
his mask, then, carrying his tire-drill under his wings, llew out over 
the water. The whale soon came up again and did as it was tidd. and 



—I T„K KAVKX, -niV. WHALE, AND Tl.K MINK 4,;-^ 

fa.;7:;;:j:;;;-;;:;:r 

:;;;;t;r;;-s::i;T:;;;::;':;\:;;r;r:^ 

and .1 > th," roof b,,nj;- sn,,,,..,te,l by tl,o wh.l.-.s spi,,'. whil. Hs ribs 
.•n.e.l ,„. walls. Kro„, a ,„bo „.at oxten.le.l alo.J thewll! • , t 
O.U, O.I was dro,p,„<r slowly into the la„.,>. When Rave,, stepped i , 
.e woma,. started „p and cried out, - How ea.ne vou here.' V ',, are 
th« tirst man who ever eanie in here." Ifaven toM how he ean.e there 
and she aske.l hin, to be seated on the other si.le of the room. This 
w<.iuan was the shade or hum of the whale, wiiieh was a. female Then 
sbe i.repared him fbo.l, oivi,,;;- him some berries and oil. at the .same 
ti.no telbn,;; hi,,, that she had oa,hered the berries the vear before 
1-or lonr days Have,, staye.l there as the n„est of the l,n>„, a.,.1 eou- 
timially wondered what the tube was that ran alon- the loof of the 
lion.se. Eaeh ti.ne the woii,an left the loom she told l,i,n that he must 
not toi.cli it. At hist, when she left the ioo„, a-ain, he went to the 
lamp, and holdinj^- out his claw caujiht a larf.e drop of the oil and licked 
it with his tongue. It ta.sted .so .sweet that he be^an to eatch and 
e;it other drops as fast as they fell. This soon became too slow for 
bin,, so he reached nj) and tore a piece from the side of the tube and 
ate it. As sooi, as this was done a great rush of oil jtoured ii,to the 
room, extinguishing the light, while the room itself began to .'oil wildly 
about. This coi, tinned for four days and Raven was i,early dead from 
weariness and the bruises which he had received. Then the i-oom 
became still and the whale was dead, for Eave.i had toil, off a pa,t of 
one of the heart vessels. The iniia never came back to th(^ ,o()i„, and 
the whale drifted upon the shore. 

Haven now found himself a prisoner, and wiiile trying to think of a 
plan for escaping, heard two men talking on top of the whale, and i)ro- 
posing to bring all of their village mates to the jilace. This was done 
very quickly, aud the people soon had a hole n,ade through the upper 
side of the whale's body. This hole was enlarged until, wat(d,ing his 
chance while everybody was carrying a load of i,,eat to the shore, Raven 
dew out aud alighted oi, the top of a hill clo.se by without being noticed. 
Then he remembered that he had left his fire drill bcl,i,,d,a,ide.\claimed, 
"Ah, i,,y good tire drill; I ha\-e forgotten it.'' He (piickly re.noved his 
.ave.i mask and coat, beco.nit,g a young man again, and staited abmg 
the shore toward the whale. The people oi, the carcass soon saw a 
small, dark colored man in a stiangely made (U'crskiu coat co.ning 
toward them, and they looked at him curiously. Raven diew near ami 
said, '■ Ho. you have found a ti.ie, large whale. Well. I will help you 
cut hiui up." He rolled up his sleeves and .set to work. Very soo,i a 
man working inside the whale's body cried out, "Ah, see what I have 
found. A tirediill inside the whale.'' At once liaveu began to roll 



IS EXU M 



40fi TIIK KSKIMO AUOUT UEKIMi STKAIT ;mi ivx. is 

iliiivii liJH hli-)-vi-H, sii.viiii;, "That in bail. Ittr my ilaii;:lit<-i° lias tulil tne 
tli:it if ik litcilrill is romiil ill a uiialo and iteople try In cut up tliat 
wiialf many of tliciii will die. I shall run away." And away lie ran. 

WliiMi Uavfii had ^oiie the ]K'<i|)le looked at one auutlier and said. 
•• I'lrliaps he is ri|.;lil ;" and away they all ran, every one trying to rub 
till- oil olV his hands as lie went. Frcmi his hiding; plaee nearby Uaveii 
looki'd on and laiiKlo'd as the |ieo|ile ran away, and then lu> went lor 
liis mask and coat. After pioc rin{; them he rcturnctl to the whale and 
lic|;aii cutting it n|i and carryiii;; the tiesh back Irum the shore. As 
he tlioii;,'ht of the ("east in store for him he even said. •' Ihaiiks" to the 
shailo. 

When III' had stored away enou;;h meat he wished to .save some oil, 
but had no ba;; to |iiit it in, so he walked alon;; the shore tryiii;; to 
liml a seal. He had ;;oiie only a short distance when he saw a mink 
run swiftly by. and he called out, " What are you running after so fast! 
Are you ;;oin^ for sonn-thiii;; to e:it?" 

Mink sto|i)ieil, and {lusliin;; u|i his nose like a mask, aa Haven had 
done with his beak, bei'ame a small, dark colored man. Then liaven 
cried, ■•Ah, >ini will be my fiieiid? 1 have plenty of food, but I am 
lonely, for I have no one with me." To this .Mink agreed, and both 
walked back to the whale and went to work, but .Nlink did the most 
tor IJaven was very la/y. 

They made i;ra.ssba<;sa!iil mats for the meat and blubber, storinj; jjreat 
i|tiantities of it in holes in the <;rouiiil. After this w;us done they built 
a fine kashiin. When it was lini.shcd Uaveii said, "It is lonely: let us 
make a feast." And he told Mink to fjoout and invite the sea people to 
join them. 

To this Mink a},aeed, so next morning; he started out. while Kaven 
made a short, round, slender rod, at one end of which he painted two 
rin;:s with charcoal )iaint. \\'hen he had fMiished this, he {^atlieri-d a 
lar;;e ball of sticky spruce {rum. which he placed with the rod in the 
kashiin. 

Mink soon returned and told kaven that on the morrow plenty of s<'a 
people Would come to the feast. To this Haven aiiswere<l, "Thanks." 
l-^aily the next morniii;; .Mink called Haven outside and pointed toward 
the sea, thi' surface of which was covered with dilVerent kinds of seals 
comiii;: to the feast. Haven went back into the kashim. while .Mink 
went ilown to the water to meet the guests and escort them to the 
house. 

As each .seal cime on shore he ]>ushed up his mask and became a 
Hinall man, ami all entered the house until it was full. Haven looked 
about at the guests and exclaimed, "What a number of people, 
flow shall I be able to make a feast for all of you! Hut never mind; 
let inc first rub the eyes of some of you with this .stulV. in order that 
you may be able to see better: it is dark in here." 

Willi his ball oi ;,'nm Haveii ilnii faNiem-d .shut the eyes of every 



■""■""' '^■'^^^' f>^' THK RED HKAR 4,^7 

seal, except a .mall „ne near ,he .l,.or. wi„Vh 1... ove,l„..k..d Tlu- i-.st 
seal .Lose .yc. were sluu was also a sn.all .„., and as 1 ...s ^ Ji; 
«ere nuuh. ast ,t 1,1.1 to j^ot th..,n ,.,„„, and h.^an to ny. T H le 

oebytl,edoor..nedout,otl,eotl.ers,^.Kaveni.a:s,u..lcv.^u..e^e ^^ 
nd , o« can not open tluMn." Then ev...y seal triod to'op.n . s > ! ' 

l.ansu,, ba.-k to a seal as .t was killed. As soon as ,l,e little on. by 
tje door saw havn, kdhnj, his .-on.panions. it ran out and escaped alone 
into the sea. 

VVhen he had finished, liaven tnrned to ^link and said, -Soe what i 
ot ot seals 1 have killed. We will have plenty of oil bags now." The,', 
they made bags of the sealskins and filled them with oil Ibr the winter 
Ever since that time Kaven and Mink have been friends, and even to 
thi.s day ravens will not eat the liesh of a mink, be they ever so Imn-ry • 
and the mink and the raven are often found very close together on^he 
tuudras. 

THE 1;KI) 1!i;AU (T..V-KtT'.KA) 
(From St Michael ami Xoitoii smiiidi 

On tbe seashore, near where the village of I'ikmiktalik jiow stand.s, 
there once lived the Eskimo hunter I'i tUdi' cholik' and Ids wife 
Ta ku'ka. The mountains were filled with great herds of reindeer 
and the sea was full of seals and fish, .so that I'itikh'-eholtk' brought 
lioine an abundance of food and skin.s. 

One fine summer evening Taku'-ka stood on the seashore waiting 
for ber husband's return. She was uneasy and anxious, as he had 
remained away much longer than usual on his recent hunting excur- 
sion.s, although he had explained to lier that the deer were getting 
farther back into the monntains and tiie seals were to be found only 
farther at sea. 

After a time Ta-ku -ka went into the house to attend to her children 
and when .she came out again her husband was ])utting his kaiak on 
the framework standing by the house. 

She asked him many ([uestions about his long stay, but he rei)lied 
peevi.shly that he had gone far out to .sea and had remained because 
he did not wish to come home without game. When they went into 
the house Taku' ka placed before him dilferent kinds of food, prepared 
as be liked it best, but he ate \ery little, and seemed gloomy and sad. 
His wife urged him to tell her the cause of his sadness, and at last he 
said, "If you must know the cause of my sadness, hear it. 1 feel that 
I am going to die. and the third i]:\y from now will be the time of my 
death.'' 

At this Taku'-ka began to cry very bitterly, but he sloppeil her, 
saying, "Do not cry and make me unliappy while 1 am with you, but 
bear mv last wishes. When I am dead you must put my kaiak into 



4»IH TIIK KSKIMO AltOlT ItKUING STRAIT (tin a><< l« 

tin- waii-r :iiiil t'astrii it to tlie isliHrc: lay my piulille, K|>ears, and lines 
upon i: ill tlirir i>ri>|»CT iilures; ilrcas my li<*<ly in tlu- waterproof Kliirt 
ami put Mil- into the kaiak, laMteninK the shirt to the manhole a.s you 
li:i\<' .sri'ii nie ilo wlu-n p>in;; to sea. lOvery eveiiiiif; for three days 
placf lish, ili-er fat, ami lierries befi>re my b<Mly that my iniiu may be 
satiHlieil. l»o yon promise me this?" Ta ku- ka promised ami wept 
hili-ntly. I'i tikh eho Ilk' did not leave the house acain, and he dieil un 
llie third day. Then Ta ku ka eried very mm-li, but diil as she had 
liecn lolii. I'h'ery nioriiiii|[; she saw that the Klia<le had fatfii, for all 
tin- fond brlori- the body was j.'oiie. On the fourth moriiiiif;, when she 
wi-nt to the shore to lament lor her dead as usual, she saw that the 
kaiak with all its coiittiits liad disappeared. Then she threw herself 
upon the ground anil lay there for a lon<; time in her sorrow; linally she 
reiiieitilieieil her eliildreii and went back to the house to eare for them. 
l"oi- a loiifj time Ta-kn' ka worked very hard, tjatherinfj berries or 
eatchin;; a:id dryin;,' lish to prepaie her store of winter food. 

One day while ^jatheiin;,' berries Hhe wandered far from home and 
went to 'he tojt of a munntain; there she looked out over the land and 
far away saw iiuIVs of smoke driftiii;; upward from the ;;round. This 
was the first si^^n she had ever seen of other ]ieo]»le. and she deeided 
to ;.'o to see what they were like. After some time she drew near the 
pla<-e and crept softly to the ed^e td" the hill, that fell away sharply on 
one side to the sea, but sloped gradually towaril a portion of the iidand 
side. Near the water were three houses, from one of which came the 
smoke she had seen. 

Mere Takii' ka waited i|uietly to sec \\ hat kind oi' jieople were there, 
and soon a woman came out, shadin;; her eyes witlMUie hand and look- 
inj; out to .sea; then she hurried back to the house, calling to someone 
within. At this two other women came out, and all went down to the 
water's edge, where they began to sing a love song anil to dance upon 
the sand facing the sea. Taku'-ka had been so interested in watching 
these women and their hamlsoinc fiir garments that she had not noticed 
anything else, but now the low, ]ileasant sound of a man's voice rising 
in song struck her ear and made her heart beat faster. She looked 
beyond the women and saw a man urging his kaiak swiftly toward the 
shore, singing and ]ilayfiilly throwing his seal spear before him, and 
picking it up as he passed. 

When he came near, Taku' ka recognized the song as one that 
I'i tlkh'cho Ilk' iiseil to sing to her in the old days; then the kaiak 
man came on shore and the women met him with exclatnations of 
pleasure. Tiiku'-kaeoiild scarcely believe her eyes when' she saw that 
the man was inili-cd her hnshanil, whom she had believed to be dead, 
lie Went into the house with the women, and Ta ku' ka felt a strange, 
fierce anger in her heart, such as she had never known before. She 
stiHxl on the hillside listening to the songs and laughter I'oming from 
the house until tar into the night. 



TAMi OF THK |;EI) 



HEAl; .,61) 



Moniiii- canu, ami Piukl, ..-lio-lik' r-.uuv out .,f ,i, i 

to 1... won,en o„ tl.e shore 1,. ..ad.lic.l out to s.-a. si, ,i I, ;:] 1 , , 
i^ Lou Lo was o„t of si„.t Ta-ku'.ka went .low., Ho,,,'^,,;, , i,: ^ ^j 
iollowed l.eMo„,e,.i„,oo„e of the houses; .hey see,n...l s,,,,, , 
see her^ but n.a.le her .deo-ue, aski... he,- „,;,.v ,ues,io„ W 
a.lmned her face aud its eoh.r. whi.h was li,hte,- ha„ thei.s so 
se^.:.! tatt...... lines ou her lac. o,.e .„. a,.d dowu l.e.wee,, L "v 

and three that extended down acToss the .-hi,, .Vo,,, her lowe. li,,- 
they were also pleased with the sha,.e of her .a.men.s. whieh were 
d.tierent fro.n theu-s. l!y and by one of the «o,ne„ sai,l. - V„„ ai-e 
very handsome with the beautiful lines .ua.ked .„. vmr faee- I wouhl 
give much If you w.mJd teach nie how to make uiy fae,. like youis" 
Ta-ku'ka answered, " I will show you how it is done, if I .-an",. lease 
you. but It will hurt you and you nmy not wish to bear the i,ain." " I 
shall not n,ind the j.ain." said the woman, " for I wish t.. be handsome, 
as you are, and am ready to b,'ar it." "lie it as you wish,'' said 
Ta ku'-ka. - Co into tiie house and make a lii-e, and put bv it a larjfc 
day pot, tille<l witli oil; when the oil boils eall me. I wiirmake your 
face beautiful like mine." When llie woniau had thanked hur and" had 
gone to make ready, the other women asked her many «iueslions. 
" Will it hurt very nnu'h :'" and •• Will she really be as jiretty as you 
are?" and others. To whi.h Ta ku'ka replied, "She will not be hurt 
very much, and she will be ]irettier even than 1." 

In a short time the woman came back,sayin,i;' that the oil was ,cailv. 
Ta-ku'katheu went into the house and told her to kneel before the pot 
of boiling oil and to bend her face over it. As soon as this was done, 
Ta-ku'ka gras])ed her by the hair and thrust her face down into tlie 
Lot oil and held it there until the woman was dead, saying. "Tliere. you 
will always be beautiful now."' Then she laid the body on the bed 
l>latform, aud covering the face, went back to tlui other women. Dur- 
ing her absence the other two had been talking together, and when she 
came Dack they asked her if she had siu'ceeded in making their com- 
panion handsome, and Ta-ku'ka nodded her head. 

Then both women said. '• We, too, will make you i)resenls if you will 
make iis beautiful." and she consented. Then all we, it to the dead 
woman's house, and Taku'-ka said to her comi)ani()ns, '■ Do not disturb 
yonr friend ; she sleeps now and her face is covered so that i,othing will 
break the charu,: when she awakes she will i)e ve,y handsome." After 
this she killed both the other women as she had the lirst. saying, as she 
laid them ou the ground, "You, too. will be very jiretty." She then 
made three crosses of sticks aud placed them upright in tiie sand wiiere 
the women Lad daiu-ed on the shore the evening before, ui)ou which she 
placed the clotLiug of the dead women so tiiat a person at a distance 
would think they were standing there. Tlien slui took a led bearskin 
aud went back to her hiding place in the rocks. K veiling came, and the 



470 THK KSKlM'i AHOUT UKinXU STKAIT [imAW.W 

liiinl«>r drew near, siii(;iii^ iih on tin- luovious iiijrlit. No answer r»'iii-lif<l 
III in, I'lit lie tliiin;;lit lii-Kaw liis \« ivc.sstaniliii;;<iii tlie Kluin*. and :iltli(m{;li 
In- raJM-d liis siiiijc in jnaisc of tlnMii, tliey {;ave no an-»w«T. llr beoanie 
anciy and sioppi-d IiIn Kon^; then lie be;c:>» to scold and upbraid them, 
but siiil tiny wiri- Hileiit. Landing, liu hurried to the silent ti|;nres 
and then on to the neun-st hoiiMe. There and at the Keeond house he 
liMind notiiin;;, but in the last he saw his wives as they lay dead, und 
'la ku' ka heard his eries of sorrow when he saw thcin. 

ri tikli rho Ilk' rnsheil ra;;in^ from the Innise, wailing with sorvnw, 
shoutint; in wild annt'r, ''If any bad spirits hav*- done this, I fear them 
not. Let tliem t'oiiio ami try to work their evil upon me. I hate and 
scorn tiii-ni.'' All remained ipiiet. "If any evil siiatle, man or beast, 
lias done this, let it eoine out from its liidiii;: place," ho slioiitetl, ''and 
dare to face a man who will tear out its heart and eat its IiUhkI; <iIi, 
miserable good-for nothing' I" 

As if in answer, he heard a deep ;irowl coming from tlie hillside, ami 
there he saw a red bear standing on its hind feet, swaying its body 
back and forth. This was Ta ku ka, who had placed a tiat stone on 
each side of her body to protect her.self from wounds by arrow or spear 
and had wrappe<l heisclf in the bearskin. 

I'i-tlkir clio Ilk' saw her and thought she was really a bear and began 
calling every oiiprobrious iiann' he <'ould think of, while liec|uickly fitted 
an arrow to his bow and loosed it. The arrow struck one of the stones 
and fell harmless, and the bear turned its other side toward him. Again 
he shot a well aimed arrow, and again it fell harmless. Then the bear 
rushed down the slope straight at liim, and I'i-tlkh' cho-llk's spear, 
striking the bear's side, broke in his hands. In a few iniunents the bear 
had thrown him down lifeless and torn out and eaten his heart. Then 
the fury whii'li had urged Ta ku'-ka (Ui seemeil to leave her and her bet- 
ter feelings began to return. She tried to take olV the bearskin, but 
it closed alioiit her so firmly that she could not. 

Suddenly Ta-ku'-ka thought of her children at home, so taking her 
basket of berries from the hilltop, she started f(U' her dwelling. As she 
went along she began to be frightened at her strange <lesU-e lor blood, 
mingled with the thoughts of her children. Iliirrying on she came at 
last to the house and i uslied in. The two children were asleep, and as 
soon as Ta ku'ka saw tlu'in a fierce, uncontrollable desire for blood 
again came o\ er her, so that she at once tore them to pieces. After this 
she weiitoiit and wantlered over the earth, tilled with a desire to destroy 
every one she came across. 

Up to that time red bears had been harmless, but Taku -ka tilled 
them with her own rage, so that they have been very savage ever 
since. Finally she reached Kuskokwim river and was killed by a 
hunter, whose arrow found its way through a crack that had been 
made in one of the stones on her side. 



""'■'■'"'^ 'I'ALK OI.^ TIIK GIANT 47I 

Tin; (IIANT (KIN' AK) 
I'l-'HU riiiilaklit. \or1„ii s,.iillil 

Ono .lark winter niRlit a w„„,;,n ran lliroujil. tl.c villafic of Nllcli -tit 
aiKl out on to tlic snow-coviTt'd tiin.lra: si,.' was llwin- tron- h.-r hus- 
band whose cnielty ha<l 1)cc unh.'arahle. All throu-h the ni-lit 

and for many days afterward she traveled on toward the north, always 
goiiiK around the villages she came near, feann- that si,e ini-ht i,e 
pnrsued. Finally she left all signs ,.f Inunan life hehind. and the cold 
became more and more intense; her small siipiily of food was .•\haiisted 
and she began to eat snow to lessen her hnnger. One day, as evening 
drew nigh, she was in such a wind swept ])lace that she forced herseff 
to go on. At last she saw before her what seemed to be a hill with live 
elevations on its crest; when she came to it she saw that it looked like 
an enormous human foot. Kemoving the sn<nv from I)etween two eleva- 
tions, that looked like huge toes, sli.' found it warm and comlbrlable, 
and slept there until morning, wlien she started and walked toward a 
single elevation that showed in the snowy level. This she reache<l near 
nightfall and noticed that it appeared to be shaped like a great knee. 
Finding a slielteied place liy it she stayed there until morning, when 
she went on. That evening a hill like a hu^c thigh sheltered her for 
the night. The next night she was sheltered in a round |)it like hollow, 
around which grew scattered brush: as she left this jdaee in the morn- 
ing it appeared to her like a great navel. 

The next night she slept near two hills shaped like enormous breasts; 
the night following she found a siieltered, com I'oit able hollow, where she 
slei)t. As she was about to start from there in the morning a great 
voice seemed to come from beneath her feet, saying: " Who are you J 
What has driven you to me, to whom human beings never come !" She 
was very much frightened, but nmnaged to tell her sorrowful tale, and 
then the voice spoke again : " Well, you may stay here, but you nuist 
not sleep again near my mouth nor on my lips, for if 1 should breathe 
on you it would blow y.m away. Vou must be hungry. 1 will get you 
something to eat." 

While she waited it suddenly occurr.<l to her that for live days she had 
been traveling on the body of the giant, Kifi'a-g'ak'. or Kifi'-ak. Then 
the sky became suddenly obscured, and a great black cloud came swiftly 
toward her; when it was near she saw that il was the giant's hand, 
which opened and dropped a freshly killed reindeer, and the voice told 
her to eat of it. Very quickly she got some of the brushwood that grew 
all about, made a fire, and ate heartily of the roasted llesh. The giant 
spoke again : " I know vou wish a place in which to rest, and it is best 
for you to go into my beard where it grows most thickly, lor I wish to 
take breath now and to clear from my lungs the hoarfrost which has 
gathered there and which bothers me; so go ijuickly." 



472 TUK KSKIMO AIJOUT IlEKIXO sTKAIT in. ivv la 

Slic liaD-ly lia<l tiiiii> to Ki't <lu^\'ll into the giant's In-aril wlic-ii a rtiriouB 
Calc of wiiiil i'iisIiimI ovit Ih-i Ik*u(I. a<-coiii]iaiiii-<l liv a hliiidiiiK snow- 
still III, whicli iiidfil as i|iiiikly as it l>ej;aii. aftt'r ext«'ii<liiiK fur out >>vvt 
till' tiiiiilia. ami tlic sky lirraiiii- clear oiiri' iiiort-. 

riic III \t ilay Kifi-iik told liiT tu liiid a ;;iiod place and Imild lierself 
n liiit ot' hairs from his heard. She looked alioiii and chose a spot on 
the h-rt side of the {giant's iiosi', not far froiii his nostril, and Imilt her 
hut from hairs taken from his mustache. Here she lived for a lone 
time, I he ;:iaiit supplying her wants liy reaching out his ;;reat hand 
and captiiiiii); deer, seals, and whatever she wished for fooil. l''roui 
the skins of wohes, wolverines, and other fur-bearin;,' animals that he 
cau;:lit for her siio made hersi-lf liaiiilsunie elotliiii;,', and in a little time 
had on hand a (;reat store ot' skins and furs. 

KiiViik lie(;aii to liiid his mustache ;;ettiii;r thin, as she used the hairs 
for lirewood, so forliade lier iisiiif,' any more of it, but told her to yet 
some of the hair prowin;,' down the side of his face whenever she 
needed any. Thus a Ion;; time ])assed. 

One day Kifi-iik asked her if she would not like to return home. 
''Yes," she replied, "only I fear my husband will beat me a;;ain. and 
i shall have no one who will protect me." 

'• I will protect you," said he. "(lo and cut the ear tips from all the 
skins you have and ]>iit them in the basket. Then set yoiir.self before 
my nioiiili, aud wliene\er you are in daii;;er reniember to call, 'Kifi-iik, 
Iviniik, come to ine,' and 1 will protect you. <io now and do as I have 
told yon. It is time. I have ;irowii tired of lyiii;; so loiiy ill one place 
and wish to turn over, and if you were here you would be crushed." 
Then the woman did as she had been loJil, and crouched before his 
month. 

At once there liurst foiili a teiiipot of wind anji line snow, and the 
w-oinan felt her.self driven before it until she became sleepy anil closed 
her eyes. When she awoke she was on the ground before the houses 
of Nlkh'-ta, but could not believe it was so until she heard the familiar 
liowlin^r of the (l(i;;s. She waited until evening, and after placing; the 
basket of ear tips in her storehouse, entered her husband's home. He 
had Ion;; iiioiiriied her as dead, and his pleasure was very great when 
she rctiirned. Then she told her story and her husband jironii-sed 
never to treat her badly again. When he went to his storehouse the 
next day he was very much surprised to tind it tilled with valuable 
furs, for every ear tip bnnighl by his wife had turned into a complete 
skin during the night. 

These skins made him very rich, so that he beeaine one of the head- 
men of the village. Alter a time he began to feel badly because they 
had no cliildren, and said to his wife, "What will become of us when we 
aie old and weak, with no one to care for lis? Ah, if we could but 
have a son." One day he told his wife to bathe herself carefully; 
then he dipiicd a feather in oil and with it drew the form of a boy mi her 
abdomen. In due lime she bore a .son and they were very hapjiy. 



"'■'•""' TALK OP Tin; CI ANT .j;;; 

The lK.y giw rapidly and cx.vH.mI all ..f his yo„thr„l („„mani.,Ms i,, 

Streiistli, aj,,hty. and n,arksn,ansl,i,,. No was „an,.d Kin-iik. i nn- 

oryot thegiant Then by do^m-s the husband b.-camo nnkin.l and 
harsb as he bad been beh.re, until one day he beean.e so enraged that 
be caugbt np a larse stiek to beat his ^vit■e. She ran out of the house 
m fear, but sbpp.Ml and fell just ontshle. and her husband was ,dose 
upon her when she remembered tiie -iant and ealled •• Kin-ak ' KiiV-ik ' 
eome to ine.'- Seareely had she said Ihese words when a terrible blast 
of wind passed over her, blowin- her hnsbainl awav. and he wa-^ nevr 
seen again. 

The years passed until young Kin iik grew lo be a handsome and 
powerful young man and beeanie a very successlbl hunter, Inil he had 
atierec and cruel temper. Oiu' evening he came home and told his 
mother that he had (piarreled with two of his companions and had 
killed both of them. His mother remonstrated with him, telling of 
the danger he would be in from the blood revenge of the relatives of 
the murdered men. Time went on, and the matter seemed to be for- 
gotten. 

Again Kin-iik came home with a tale, of havin.i; killed a comiiaiiinn. 
After this every few days he would (piarrel with someone and end by 
killing him: at last he had killed so many iieo])le that his mother 
refused to ]iermit him to live with her any k)nger. He seemed greatly 
suriirised at this, saying, "Arc you not my mother.' How is it that 
you cau thus treat me?" 

"Yes,'' she replied,"! am your mother, but your e\il temper has 
ended in killing or driving away all our fiiends. i;veryon(' hates and 
fears you, and soon no one will be left living in the villaj;e except old 
women and childi'en. (to away: leave this place, for it will be better 
for all of us."' 

Kin-iik made no rejdy, but for some lime he huntiMl (■ontinually until 
he had tilled his mother's storehouse with food and skins. Then he 
went to her, saying, "Now that I have ])rovided you with food and 
skins, as was my duty, I am ready to leave,'' and he went forth. 

By chance he took the same road his mother liad traveled during 
her flight, and came at last to the giant's head. When the giant 
understood that he was the son of the woman who had been there he 
permitted the young man to stay on his face, but told him never to 
come about his lips, for if he ventured there evil would befall him. 
For some time Kiniik lived there quietly, but at last made up his 
mind to go upon the giant's lip and see what was there. Alter a great 
deal of hard work in getting through the tangled thicket of beard on 
the giaufs chin he reached the mcmth. The moment he stei)ped upon 
the bps and approached the oiiening between them a mighty blast of 
wind swept forth and he was hurled into the air and never seen again. 

The giant still lives in the north, although no one has ever been to 
him since that day; but whenever he breathes the tierce snow-drifting 
north winds of winter make his existence known. 



474 TIIK KSKIMo AHnlT HKKI.Vt; BTUAIT ..ui.>xis 

JIIK i>.NK\VUr» FIXns Ndllll.NIi (I'l cm -I Ll.'5-IK) 
Iruiii SI Mi.'lin.li 

Once tln'n- was i\ Miiiall. ii^ily I'lK-i- yoiiii;; iiiaii who could iiev«T liiul 
aiiN iliiii;: that ht' liMikcU lor. WhciifViT hi- wi-iit out with his >h-<l for 
wiHxI. hi- rctiiriuMl without any, liccaiist' In- roiiM iievi-r siicrctMl in 
liiiiliii^ uny, not the haMt \>\vve. Tht'ii ho i-iitcMcil the kasliim and sat 
down in his phirr ovt'r the eiitranco way. NVIien he sat ilown there 
ho woiihl leniain i|uiet toi' a \m\t: time. Tiie one sitting beside him 
Koiiieiinies jjave liiin water, wliicli he wonhl drink and then In-eonie 
ijiiite .still a;;ain. 

1 1 forced to ;;o out. he would put oil his Itoots and ;:u. Ixit would 
return a;:ain very soon and sit as bel'ore. Once wlieii tliirsty he went 
out to th*^ water hole Cor a drink, liut when he eaiiie to I he plaee he 
eould not liiiil the water hole, as it seemed not to lie there. Then he 
returned to tho kasliiiii a;;ain without drinkin;: and sat down in his 
jilaee. the one lieside him giving.; him water. 

At iii;ilit ill bed. not being able to sleep and beiiij; thirsty, he went 
out to lind his elder brother's house. Alter miieli searehing he euuld 
not lind the jilaee. so went back to the kasliim and lay down. Awaking 
in the iiioi'iiing, he look some lisliing tackle and went lishiiig. When 
he came to the water he could not lind it. and after looking for it uiisiic 
cessfiilly he returiu'il without fishing. Thus he came back once more 
without anything and was liiingry also when he sat in liis jilace as 
usual. 

Then he tlioii;;ht. •• If 1 go to ])ick berries I suppose I will not be able 
to lind any." Taking a wooden bucket he went for berries. After look- 
ing, but failing to lind any, he ictiirned to his place in the kasliim. The 
next inorning. becoming hungry, he took his arrows and went hiiiitiiig 
for wild geese. Not finding any. and .seeing nothing <'lse. he returiie«l 
again. ( )lhcr men brought back hair seals they had killed. The Oiie- 
who tinds nothing took iiis kaiak and putting it into the water went 
out seal hunting. lie hunted long for the seals, but there .seemed l<i bo 
none: and seeing nothing, he came back to his place in the kasliim. 

Winter «-ame, and he thought, "I do not know what to do with 
myself." The next day he took his mi.serable bed anil rolled it up with 
his poor tool bag, put the bundle on his back, and went out to the land- 
ward side of the village, beyond the house.s, and sat down. Heiiig 
seated. In- took his bundle from his ba<k and. opening it. untied his toid 
bag. This being dime, he scattered the tools alioiit him anil threw 
away the bag. Then he spread down his bed and. sitting ujioii it. lay 
back, saying, "Here will I die." 

There he lay all night without moving. When the sun came up he 
heard a Kaveii nnaking, and then it.s mate. lie remained iiuiet and 
the Itavcii came, ali^'hliiig near him with its mat*- just beyond. The 



""""'"'■' 1'"E ONE-\VHO-FIM'?-NOTlllN(; 475 

nearest Kavon sp„Ue. sayi,.^, "Look! Unv is soM.othin:, to ..r W. 
baviy.ot ealn,, an.l w. had h.-ttor not wait. I.-t „s l.ave his ..v..s." 
The farthest IJaven answore.l. -Xo. he is not .h-a,!." '• Whv ,l.„.s i".,. ji,. 
there, then, as if he were dea.l ."' said the lirst Itav.Mi - \„ 1... is „ot 
dead: for h.ok thnv. then- is „o snw.ke' l.y him.- r,.,.li..d th.. s..,..,.,,! 
one. 

Then the tirst Kaven hwainc enra-ed and cast hiniseii' ahout sayin"- 
'•Why IS lie thrown out. (hen? Look at his thin-s scattm'.l abont 
hini.' "I do not wish any of it."' said th.^ mat.-, -there is no .sin.ike hy 
hini. r will leave you.- And he Hew away. -.Ml ri-lil: von ean Hy 
of1,"' said the first Raven :•• I will have his eyes." 

Tlu-n the man o])cned his eyes very slightly and looked sid.-wise at 
the Kaven. This one, coininj;- toward the small, uslyface yonnjr man, 
stood there holdinj-- up his hcak, which became a line knife. He went 
nearer, and between his eyelashes tlie man saw, raised by the hilt, a 
fine knife. He thoufrht, " 1 have no knife." Then the point came close 
to him. He thought again, -I have no kiufe.'" He suddenly caught it 
and snatched it away from the h'aven. 

Back sprang Kaven, and the nmn sat up. -(live me my knife," said 
Eaven. The man answered, saying. "I have no knife, and this shall 
be my knife. The IJaven replied, ''I will |.ay you for it with all kinds 
of game." 

"No," said the man, " I will not nive it back. I always go out hunt- 
ing and can get nothing." -Then," said the Itaven, "if you wish to go 
batdc to the village you will not reach there when you try." "I have 
no knife,"" replied the man. Here the I'aven coughed and fell down, 
saying, "Thus will you do. Keep my kidfe, if you piize it," said he, 
and flew away. 

The nnin sat up, still keeping the l;nil'e. 'flien he started to go back 
to the village. As he was going his throat contracted, his l)a(-k bent 
over in front, and he rested his hands on his knees. Suddenly he 
became an old man. He could not walk. He lay on his fice. He did 
not stir. He was dead. 

Following is the same tale in f'.skimo willi an l".n,i;lisli interlinear 
translation : 

I'i.rlui ■i-lli'i-nl. I Th' (hl,-irl,„.linils-„ollnu,li 

\iifiiilfh'-i)i-nii'-i-nii'-fi'i'iJ: pi'-rhui'tnk it-kukhtiikh'h-am'i kumUili'i'i- 
\ small. iif,'lv-face yom'i.u' (whot can in.l f:<>iiig out f»i- \vo<»l "illi a 

man ' linil i anytliiiif; i 

lu'-n) )}-l:iil-h' f,ii' <folihU:h' lot a-ko-jn'-fi'-iahh'-hi-iti i,'tnh-li-i„nil-li'-lok. 
sled tlu- woc.d hc'-.M/s tc. I.rin- without liinlinn anv afjain retnrn<-.l ho. 

C-ku' -ail milk tiiiikh'-pii-k'ni- iini n'-tiikli iiniikli' lok pkikh'-piikti-kit'- 

The wood havin-s.-eu non.^olit ajjain reti.ilied he without the least 

■(»(' Jiia Imrial lire. 



476 THK KSKIM"! AIIOIJT BKitlXG STRAIT |eiii.AX)i. w 

'', Ink cliiirii'iniiiulu'ii}. Kiij'-i-ffiiutiikh'-Ujk umiin' ko-rCnuH iikh- 
< lia- W haviu;; nunc. The kailiiiii weut iuto Ibo aliuve Mit 

li< lie iloor 

iioiikli tiik iikli-vlny-ml iri'tiin-tnikli'-tok. ('hlkhlkh'-ktil-ni urn vhun-lk'- 
il-inn bn Kiltiiiu ilown tlirrc rruiiiini-<l liv. When Ki^'eii (by) aloU);- 

hini 

hli mi miiii ■I'l-iiniikli'lnk. Ti'ikliini'-ml tauiltn' iri'tiin-imkh'-tok. Kiim- 
milp wiktcr ilronk hi'. Kiniabini; tliiiR then- rruniucU lie. His 

ijH -iji-ni lifiiiii'-mitjik iit-H<ni'iji'ik iin tiukh'-tok. Txliik-irba'-ml lin-i'if/u- 
I tA Inkint: iiiittinu on went out ho. Outaido ili-ii'- 

nniikh' -Ink kho'hlii-i-ni'-hUt i-ti'ig'-it nanklt'-tok it-kha'-mi ukU-naukh'tok. 
iiiUhI 111- iiriniiKMl and oniiio buck be cnnilni; in sat iIowd be. 

I'kh-rlii'i'-mi iri'-laiiiiukh'tok. Mi'ik'-nliiiii'-nil iiit-uukh'-tok la'g'i'i-tHun' 
SittiD); il«» II tliiTc rrniiiiiii'il bo. Iluini; tbirnly out wrnt be to thr wutcr- 

hole 

tihrii-iiiiiikh'-lok ti-kicliii->iiiii' nuii'-inca Ui'-fjukhtai'-tiik miikh'-pukln'- 
went Ik' riiiiiiiii; tn it ii);:iin the unttT-bnle witbimt ilriuk- 

wnn ni>t i tliiTv 

iini u-li'ikh-uHukh'tiik Kiij'->-(ji'mun it-kha'mi iiu-nn'-mi-nun' uklirha'-tnl 

Inu ri'tiiriii'il ln' ii;:iiin to the ka.sliiin. rriirbiii;; to hiti place »ittiiiK ilowu 

iri'-liin iiiikli'lffk. Chiin-ik' ■hll-mirhi-kiun' -l ini'ii/h'-u-ini'ik' mHijh'n-iinukh'- 
tliiTi- ri'iiiaiiicil 111'. rill' one liosiile ffiviii}; water ilrank 

liiiii 

tok liin'n ici'-tiin-(li(kli'tiik. f'-niiti'-i'i mi kiiii-dii'-iijniii-iiiklt'-kd'-mi iin- 
III- (tiiiH there rciiiaineil lie. .\t ni^bt nut HlcepiuK ont 

(lukli'tok iin-iii-ii'-iiii niiinin' mi'tk'-sliii(t'-ini ii'iji-nnukh'-tiik uftai'-g'i'it- 
wi'Ut lid lo hJH oilier the boiixe being thinit^ went he but I'onnd it 

l.Kitlier of 

naukh'-tok ni-Hhoij' -njakh' -lu-ni kiij'-ifii-iiaiikh'lok i'-niikhiumkh'-tok. 
not he Hearebinu much for it wect tu the Kiij-i;a ho laiil down be. 

Tiijii'-mi miin-u' -ko-t u(j' -inik H-iju'-chii-ml miin-uij' ■ t'l-jinj' -u-lii' -lU aiiuj-H- 
Anaking liiihiiig tackle taking tiHbing went 

luiiikli'-liik. Miifih'-i'tmiin' ti-ki'-cli(i-mi mukhtai'-ifu-tiik tan'-i) m'lKhmj'- 
he. To thu water coming water was Dot and then >eurcliiiig 

ijakli' Initi miin-iikh'pii-kin'-iiii-} uli'tkh-naukh'-iitk ti-ijit-miukh'-tuk 
iiUHiicceiwriilly not I'lBhiiig returned again be brought ho 

vhi'iiii'iDUi-ulii'iil nH'-ijn-hu-miV -fifli'i' -tchii tJ-ki'-rhii-mt nil iin'-minun' 
iiotliing hungry waH he also coming to bin place 

;//,// iiiiiikli'-tok. I'm'jiiiikli'-li-kok ii-chiikhcho'-kiimn'irik ii-chiikh'-iiiiri- 
HixtiUtwu hr. Tboiighl bo berries if I go to pick porliups 1 will 

tii tlil-ii-ii'i-iu'i'-iK KiHliltii'-iiii'ik ti-tm'cha mi ni-i'ikh'-tok ii-vhux'-iiffi- 

lint III' able to get A Imckit taking goi.s ho having searched 

any. 

ji)kli' liiiii u-titkh' Ink lirhiikh' lot'-ki-nii'-ni. Tiki'-cliaml nii-na'-mi-HUu' 

lor tlieiii buck went without getting any. Coming back to bis place 

nnniiccoiuirMlly be 

iikh rlii\'-mi iri'liiiik. Xi'i'-fii'ijiiriti' ml ii'nii-ii'-ko-iin-iikh-chiiii' khii'-nl- 
sltiing down is there. Jlocoiuiug biiDgry morning the next takiuf; 



Iiii'inii 

I'hat (fine) 



''"''™' •'"'■; ONE-\VII()-|.-INns-X,,T!IIX,; 477 

His arrows .r„,.Oi,< i"< "lyii ((,,.,i-hi -ni tni'-ii-mid'-sh,!,/- 

" Iniiihti^' AviUI uccsr for till' Ki'c^.- 

linirs.als bringing' tli.-i„ l,v tli,-iu- taken 

scUvs 

uotbiiin "^ ,"i s 111 li.iii M'al 

lumtni... l-„rlKurs,.alsl,„„lsI,.. I,a,r mmI. an- n„t l.aik Nvi.„t l,o .sj,,/ 

Botbiug connn, ||„.,., Wintir con.in, ami tlmiUBl.e 

m-mi'-na- kui-nkh^.n-hn-tiik pj.rkr . f ■nna'-koin, ,i.hU.h,.hv>\'.lilH.u'-Hi 
liimsclf dim t kiioNV wliat, Tlio iii'xt .lav his inisi-rabl.. l.vd 

lo ilo. 

ii-ilu-«'-niiH hliV-iu/.n-ici'-hlii-ii-iii ii-lili'-ko-hniii'-iiwi'-inin i'-nii'tnii'-fa 
takii.ii au.lliisiaraii tool hau |iiit I i.iu iii liis l„.,l rolling it np 

iit'-iiii-i>kh'-1()l: iit-iiii'-iiiiii iii-iikh -Ink iiii-innii ti(ii-i-iiini iiitii-lnhli'clta- 
a liundlf be tios it 011 uo.s be lollic siiU" Ibo honsi-s 

makes |an,l 

mi'-la u-ku'-ml'(k. A-kuiii'-in'i-KiH-t Ulniiuj'ii-ui niiitiikli'-tni nii i'-tui 

beyond sits dowu. Beiiii; sealed the biiiulle taking oil' undoiiij; it 

aii-i'-ch((-mi'-l-i hli'-hU/ it-iri'-iii fii/ii-d ■miii iiiii'lai. Kiilhl jii'ikhvhii'-mhi 

being undone the tool liag takiri;; undoing it. lieing ojien 

i-man'-t ukh ko'-kal (i-iriit-nvi'-ntiu hli'-liiti-iiii-i' iii hlii. A-lili'-i'i-kiipa iii 

tbe con- throwing aronml bini tlie bag too. Ili.s bedding 

tents 

fi'-f/ti-d'-miu H-chi'-nn-)iH)i clii'ikli-tii luiiiV-a'n-iiii' ii-ko'iiiiik iin-iikli'-liik 
taking under biui pbieed upon it sitting lies back be 

kiin-tuj-u-lu'-ni " icm-hi til-koii'-ii-iiok'-hl'i." r-inikli' -iii'ik liniatii pi'i-ki'-lik- 
s'ayiug "here will I die." .Ml night ihus stirring 

shaiin'-<i)hi wi'taiik. Ukh'-ink mii-djukh'-hluiinifi'-i'i-lii'-iii ni'-ink lulu'- 
not bo is tbns. Morning it is ami the snn rising bears lie a 

kaiiif ilk ktiV ■A-(f'\-u-(i'1-<i iciin-i'-tiiu nihtri'-pii-iil'-toka-lild'-mitk. I'ii-ki'-tik- 
raveu croaking' then its mate hears b<: besides. Remaining 

.sh(nni'-ii)i-i n-i'-iiuik. Tuna' mi ink' i/a-ti' nun irii ni'-tiin im-ai'-pt'i j/titi'- 

still be is there. Ami lights beyond and hero its mate beyond 

then be him 

nun nii-tuk'. Tati-atn' i>ii-ki'-tik-slit(iin'-('in-i n-i'-tmik. i'-i/nk' liliii 
it lights be. And yet be reniaiiiing not stirring is there. The nearest one 

kan-id-h'-tok 'Ha-mi'-hlnt nii-i/i'-kak' nnn nnifnk' sli(ii'-lii-;,nk 

says be '^seeliere some food In- eat had not better 

iri'-tiif-kiu'-an-uk' i-lo,i'-n-liiii'-nk" hV i n,i ai jnin' t/dk-hli'-an ki-u' (/'a 
■ wait eves lot us have" that male farthest answers 

(one) (the^ 



47S TlIK K8KIM<i AlKilT Itt'KIN*: STKAIT (eTn.uni.18 

"kiiii' li liiko iiiiinii g'i'-tokS liiiim ifitk-'liliuH kiu'g't> "rhiiku'ni- 
•■iio ilrud i» not h«>." 'Ilic i>iir iirurmt iiiiswrni " wby il<M-it be 

gik mit iii ihii lill kh'-rhi-kil f" iii'-iim yak lili iiii •' Kiiii'-il tu-ku' miin- 
*|i,. I,.. I.- ii-i if tlirtiuii oiitf " tlip one faribent "Nn drail i* 

ui/'i lok iiliim' liiii'-khii Aui-i/n'-ii-;/'*' pu-l-ukh-Uti'-liu-ut." im'-i-iul 
iiiil III' fur npi' liKik Iktc in lii« iilmn miKikr in iioDe." Ilintouu 

Hiji'ik hii II kiiii-iikh'lok '■•i-hii-hi'-niijik f" tan' ii rliu-iiy'-u-jiiif I'lhi' ni 
iii'iitft nay* ho " m by ia ln' Ibrtin n nml tln-u bevotuiu); <-iiriit;<-il 

(iiiit > f " 

rlni hliii ■lniiikli'-l(l '^iiti'tm' ti'iii'-khu rhai-miiijul' airati'-ni chii-hllt'- 
tliri'» biiiiHtilfiiliiiiii ■■>•<••■ bi-n- look bin tbingn nroiiml neat- 

I'lijit." lii'-i-iiil ai'jiii kiiiii'ikli'liik '•iri'-ph'ini' (ii-tl uni-rhi'ii-kiim-kin 
icri'il." Tlml iii)c""> iiiiilc sayn bu ■'! ilu not winb it 1 will l»av« yoii 

a I II III' liiii-khu kii'i-uii'-iii/i pii'jii i' lii'iiit." Tlii'-ok ^•taii'i) tii'i-i'm'' 
for »<••• look in IiIh |il:iri- tbrre i> no .'Hioki-." Klic« bi> "All ticlit lly>on' 

ni pii kiin-iikh'-lok "iri itiiii' Hiiiirihj'-u-U^' Im'-iiui yukli iriliin'-i- 
tloiiintK Hiiyn lie "I will bavo bio i-yes." Tbat niiin o|irus liU 

xliiiakli'tok titiju'-ijit-ijii' nu-ijuthl-pi-i'i fi' -inn' -ij ilk. Tui-it'i'-iiiii ni'iii'-ii-ki1- 
cvfH u littlo loi>ka Hiili-wiMi tlic iiniall, ii^ly voiinK >iinn. 'I'be onu aliMMla 

■ oniiiiK 

jll'-i i/i-ii tiiju' ml II' ijiiirhii rhiiii ikli tiik liii' ■kiiliikli'tok li-ki'-cliii miii' 
tUrf iiolilin;; ;i line kniTc iiviiier i oini-!! Iio runiiii); rlo.x- 

laii-iitii' kihim'-l-lii'-ni kii-iini<i' lijn'inl a-ijuUt'-liiim ki-iikhkoii'-iiliinl 
unil tln-n wati-liing fyoliisbrn ln'twtM-n lookinK n little 

tl-ki'-fhii-miii nk-liliii'-tii rhau-Kj' i-mi'-iiik. I'mju I'lkh'-t'i-kok '^i'liaii- 
i-loNi' liy raiavil by Ibu liilt bia lin<' knil'u. TbiiikK In' •■[ bave 

hri'cliii-kini'" iniit-ikli'-irhti kiipiik'-atii'-nl iiiii-jiiiikli-tikok "(7i/i«- 
no knit'o" and here tlu' point coming <'Iohv tbinka be "I bare 

hri' i-liii-kint ti'-fiu-iikli'-U\ ii-lilokli'-lilii-kii nkli'-kh-tok. Im'-'i nii a-ku'-mnk. 
no Unite" cnti-liin); it and Hiiatebin;: it liaik jnnipii Tbat one aita np be. 

he. 

" r/ir/H /■'•/.(I tiii'-Kitjii" kiin-iikli'-titk inlii' -kun ifi'tk. Ii'i'i-mi akii'mok 
•'.My knife ^ivo here," aays the inven. That one ailabe 

'^rhaiilii'i'-hiii irivhiiuik'-l-chi'-ii-ki'i-ki'i^' iw'-i h»1 'u'l-i-iiii kiin-iikh-tok 
"knite I bare not my knife it Hball lie" tliiKone that one anya bo 

^^Hiiiiu'-likliclii(tkinii'-kln pi-ti'ikh' ki'tt tiimni'lii.^' ••h'iin'-i}" im'-i-nii 
"I will ]iuy yon of t;anio .dl kinils." "Xo," tbi.i one 

ii'iiii •• tiiniriiii'-lihkii iiiin'i'-ii'ii-mi'i pi hliin' i-tji-tu-n." lm'-S-ni\ )«'•(-»»<» 
to bini " I will not I alwuya go out 1 );et nothiii;;." 'i'bia one tbat one 

til-Ill' kttiii/iik '^pikli-shiikli-jHi'-giin kiri-u'-nuklipiiiiin' ii tiiii'-iinijii'-iil 
the raven '• If yon wir»b to return to joiir pluie when yon k" hark 

ti kij'ii'iiii'-liitn ki-ii'i/ii 'U-hiiu hri'tii-i}." Wiin i'-tiin iiiii tit-hi' knn i/'iik 
yon will not grl anan-ered "I have no knife." More iben he tbi' raven 
there (he) 

hot Ikli'tok I'-kii ii'hi-iii ^'iriitn plclii'-i}kittn rlinui'ki} iijiUi' k' kn'- 
ron^liH hu falling "Tbua will yon ilo knife my keep if yon 



'■"■'""' THi; I.OXK WOMAN 479 

'"'.ia" "'u:;.'' "-'';::::;;,::: '" :.::!■';';>' "';"fr t'-'-""'"' ^<'''- 

pm, ^(.1 N ii.tik lie l>Mi-k wli.-ii lie is ;:oiii.' his 

rest «n,Id,.nly ,.,„ n„t walk 1„. „1,1 „.,„ Won.es lie s,uU|.-«l.v "'o,. liis i:J 

l)n-ld'-tn-u-(i"iiok tdii-a'-ni hi-l.o' lu-ni. '""* '"^^ 

stirs not lie and tlini is .had. 

'I'lIK l.nXK WOMAN 



VeiT loiif;- !i-o tluTc weir iiiiniy iiicii livin.;; in tlic iiortlilainl. liiil 
tberc was 110 woman anuing tlicm. Far away in tlu' soutliland a .sin;;lc 
woman was known to live. At last one of the yonn.u- men in the north 
started and traveled to the south until he eanu' to the woniairs house, 
where he stopped and in a short time became her husband. One day 
be sat in the house thinking of his home and said, "Ali, I have a wife, 
while the son of the headman in the north lias none." And he was 
niueli pleased in thinking of his good fortune. 

Meanwhile the headman's son also had set out tojouiney toward the 
South, and while the husband was talking thus to himsell' tiie son 
stood m the entrance jiassage to the house listening to him. lie waited 
there in the ])assage until the peoi)le inside were aslec]i. when lie crept 
into the house and, seizing the woman by tlic sliouldcis, began drag- 
ging her away. 

Just as he reached the doorway he was overtaken liy tiie husband, 
who caught the woman by her feet. Then followed a struggle, which 
ended by pulling the woman in two, the thief carrying the upper hall' 
of the body away to his home in the-noithland, while tiie husband 
was left with the lower portion of his wife. Vjm-M man set to work to 
reidace the missing ])aits from carved wood. After these were (ilted 
on they became endowed with lile. and so two women were made from 
the lialve.s of one. 

The woman in the south, however, was a i)oor needlewoman, owing 
to the clumsiness of her wooden lingers, but was a tine dancer. The 
womau in the north was very expert in needlework, but her wooden 
legs made her a very poor dancer. lOach of these women gave to her 
daughters these characteristics, so that to the present time the same 
difference is noted between tiie women of the nortii and those of the 
south, thus showing that the tale is true.' ^^^ 

■Tl..staUT..reis 10 iiolalil.- fn,-ta i.i i-L'gi.rcl to liif accuinplislnuc-uts uf tho woniol. ill th.' .lUlrioH 

nnrlliaM.l s.mth uf St ilii-liu.-l. 



4W0 TlIK KSKIMO AH'H'T ItKIUNti STRAIT 1etii*».H 

Tin: « iiKLiN"; <»r <r\nks 

. Trorii Si .MU'tiael anil ullii-r plorr* on N'Mrdiii ihiiiiicI) 

OiH- aiiliiiiiii il;i\. Vfiy Ion;; iip>. tin* rniiifs w«t<' prfpiirjii;; to yo 
siMiiliwiiiil. As llicy writ' ;,Mtlit'i-i'<l ill a ;.'if;»t tItK-k tliey Hiiw a Wan- 
tiiiil yoiiii;: wdinaii stuiiiliiit; aloiit- iii>ar tlic villa;;*'. Adiiiiriii); litT 
yn-ally. till' <-raiirs ;;atlii'nMl aliiiiil, ami lifliiiy; licr on their wiilcsproad 
uinys, Ix.rr liiT far up in the air and away. U'liili- the ennies \v»Te 
takiii;; Iht tip tliey riicied Iti-low her so closely that she could not fall, 
and their loud, hoarse cries drowned licr calls lor help, so she was 
carried a^ayaiiil never Hcen a;;ain. Mver since that time the cranes 
always circle aliouf in auliiiiin. iillenn;; their lotui i-ries while prepaiin;; 
to lly Konlhward. as they ilid at that time. 

TiiK i>\VAi;i' ri-.ori.K 

(Kroiii St MirliiK'l mill I'ikiiiiktallk) 

Very lonj; a;ro. l)etore we knew of the white men, there was rt lar^e 
village at Pikniiktalik. One winter day the people livinj^ there were 
very much surprised to see a litlle man and a little w-oman witli a child 
coining; down the river on the ice. The man was so small that he wore 
a coat made from a sin;;le white fox skin. The woman's coat was made 
from the skins of two white hares, and two luiiskrat skins elothctl the 
child. 

The old i)eoi»h^ were about two ciiliits hij;li and the boy uot over the 
len;;tli ol One's forearm. Thoujih he was so small, the nnm wasdra';ginf; 
a sled much larger than those used by the villagers, and he had on it a 
heavy load of various articles. When they came to the village he easily 
drew his sled u]) the steej) bank, and taking it by the rear end raise<l 
it on the sled frame, a feat that would have reipiired the united 
Htreiigth t»f several villagers. 

Then the couple entereil one of the houses and were made welcome. 
This small family remained in the \ illage for some time, the man taking 
his place in the kashiin with the other men. lie was very fond of his 
litlle son, but one day as the latter was jdaving outside the liouse 
he was bitten so badly by a savage dog that he died. The father in his 
anger caught the <log up by the tail and struck it so hard against a 
post that the dog fell into halves. Then the father in great sorrow- 
made a handsiinie grave bov for his son, in which he |daced the child 
with his toys, al'ter which ho returned into his house and for four 
days did no work. .\t the end of that time ho took his sled and with 
liis wife returned up the river on their old trail, while the villagers sor- 
rowfully watched them go, for they had come to like the pair very 
much. 

liil'oie this time the viilageis had always made :i bed tor their sleds 



' TIIH DWAKF PEOI'LI.; 4^^^ 

fromlouff Strips Of wood running- In.sthwiso, but aftor tlH.y IkhI se..,, 
tl,e dwad s sled w,th many cn.sspie...s. Ihoy a.lopted this n,..d..l. 

Ll. to tlH. tunc. .vluM, (hey sa«- th. .hvarf ,,o«ph. h,„v their sou in a 
grave box w.th snuill articles phu-ed about hini. the viUa^rns had 
always east their .lead out upou the tundra to be th.- prev oCdo.s and 
^vdd beasts. But theneeforth they bnrie.l their dead an.l observed 
lour days ol seclusion lor niournins. as had been .lone bv the dwarf 

bince that time the hunters .•laini that they sometimes see up.,n tiie 
tun.lra dwarf people who are sai.l usually t.) ..irrv bows an.l arrow, 
aii.l when approached suddenly disaiipear into the ground, and deer 
hunters often see their tracks near I'ikmiktalik m.mntains. N„ „i,e 
has ever spoken to one of these dwarfs sin.'e th.' time they left the vil- 
la.ue. They are harndess pe,.p]e, lu-ver attemi)tiu,i;- t.) .h) an\ .)ne an 
injury. 

TIIK SIN AND TIIK MdnN 



In a coast village once live.l a man an.l his wifi- who had two ehil.'nen, 
a girl and a boy. When these children grew large ennugh. s.) that the 
b.)y could turn over the gravel stone, he became in h.ve with his sister. 
Being constantly importuned by the boy his sister linally, t.i avoid 
him, floated away into the sky and became the moon. The boy has 
pursued her ever since, becoming the sun, and sometimes overtakes 
and embraces her, thus ."lusing an eclipse of tlie moon. 

After Lis children had gone their father became very gloomy and 
hated Ins kind, going about the earth scattering disease and death 
among mankind, and the victims of disease became his food, until ho 
became so evil that his desire ould not be satislie.l in tiiis way, so 
he killed and ate people who were well. 

Through lear of this being peoi)le threw tiie bo.lies of their dead 
just outside the village that he might be fed with.iut injuring tlie 
living. Whenever he came al).)ut the bodies would disapjjear during 
the night. Finally he becuime so bad that all the nmst powertid sha- 
mans joined together and. by using their magi.' powers, were enabU'd 
to ca])tare and bind him hand an.l fo.it. s.) that he was no longer able 
to wander about doing mis.^hief. Although bounil an.l unable to move 
al).)ut, he has still the iK)wer to intr.)dnce disease ami aflliet maid<in.l. 

T.) prevent evil spirits from wan.lering and taking jiossessiou of 
d.'ad bodies and thus giving them a tictitious animation for evil i)nr- 
p.ises, and in memory of the bin.ling of this evil one, the dea.l are no 
longer thrown out, but are tied hand and f.)ot in the i)ositioii in whi.-h 
the demou was bound and pla.'cd in the grave box.' 

iThen- is anotlier Xortoii suunil version nl'tliis IuIl- .Himilai- Ic. Uw ..m. trum Ihe low.r Vi.kmi, which 
will bo givL-ii witli the tales from that iliatriet. 
IS ETU 31 



.JS2 TIIK KSKIMO Aliorr HEUING STKAIT (eriiAXS. l« 

■J UK Bl N ANlt TUi: MooN 
I From tlic Inn IT Viiknfn 

111 :i rcrtiiiii villa;,'!- on llii' nn-at rivi-r once lived four Itrotliers ami i\ 
wi-tvr. The sister had for a eonipanion a small hoy of whom she wus 
\ii\ fonil. This hoy was lazy and eould never he made to work. The 
other lirothers were ^reat hunters and in tiie fall hunted at se«, for 
thev lived near the shore. As soon as the IJladder feast was over 
they went to the Mionntains and hunted reiiuleer. 

The boy never went with them, hut staye<l at home with the sister, 
and they amused eaili other. <»ne iiinlit the sister awoke and found 
the hoy lyinj; in hed elose to her, at whirh she tiecaine very an;:ry and 
mad<- him fjo to sleeii in the kashim with the men. The next evening, 
w hen she carried food to her hmthi-r.s in the kashim she jjiive none to 
the i>oy; instead, she went home, and after mixing some berries and 
deer fat, cut otV one of her breasts, phued it in the dish, and carried it 
to the boy. I'utting the disii bedire him she said, -'You wanted me 
last iii};lit. so I have ^iveii you my lireast. if you desire me. eat it." 

The boy refused tiiedish, so she took it up and went outside. As 
she went out she saw a ladiler leading up into the sky. with a line 
hanging down by the side of it. Taking hold of the line, she ascended 
the hiddcr, going up into the sky. As she was going up her younger 
brother came out and saw her and at once ran back into the kashim, 
telling his brotiieis. They began at once to scold the boy ami ran out 
to see for themselves. 

The l)oy caught uj) his sealskin breeches and, being in su<h a liuriy, 
thrust one leg into them and tiieii drew a deerskin sock upon the other 
foot as he ran outside. There he saw the girl far away uy in the sky and 
began at once to go up the lailder toward her, but she lloated away, he 
following in turn. 

The girl then became the sun ami the boy became the moon, and ever 
since that lime he pursues but never overtakes her. At night the sun 
sinks in the west and the moon is .seen coming up in the east to go 
circling alter, but always too late. The moon, being without food. wanes 
slowly away from starvation until it is .piite lost from sight; then the 
sun reaches out and feeds it from the <lish in which the girl had placed 
her breast. Alter the moon is fed and gradually brought to the full, it 
is then permitted to starve again. >o proilucing the waxing ami waning 
every montii. 

i>l£H;i.N Ol' LAM) AND I'KorLK 

I I'roiii till' liiHiT Vukiin i 

In the beginning there was water over all the earth, and it was very 

coM: the watei- was covered with ice, and there were no jieople. Then 

the ice ground to;:ctlicr, making long ridges and hummocks. .\t this 

time came a man from the far side of the great water and stopped 



'"'■'"" ORIGIN- OF LAM) AXI. I'Kdl'I.R 4^3 

slHMvolf. l.y and by ho had ,nany .-hihlro,,, ^vhi,•h uv.-c always horn 
m pa.rs-a b,.y ami a ^i, 1. ICac-h pair spoke a to„.„e of their mv„, di.^ 
enno- Iron, thatot their parents an.l .lilVerent iVo.n auv spoke., l.y their 
brothers and sisters. 

As soon as they were hirge enouj^h eaeh pair was sent out i„ a diller- 
ent d.rectiou from the others, and thus the fan.ily spread far an.l near 
troni the lee hills, \yhieh now heeanie snow-coyered mountains. \s the 
snow melted it ran dovyn the liilisides, seoopin- out rayines and riyer 
beds, and so makiu-- the earth with its streams. 

The twins peopled the earth with their children, and as each pair 
with their children spoke a lanf;nii.ye dillerent from the others, the 
various ton-ues Ibund on the earth w.tc establislied and continue 
until this day. 

THE BRINUlNi; OF TilK I.KUIT 1!V UAVKX 



111 the first days there was li^ht from the siiu and tin- moon as we 
now have it. Then the sun and the moon \yere taken away, and people 
were left on the earth for a long time with no light but the shining of 
the stars. The shamans made their strongest charms to no jmrpose, 
for the darkness of night continued. 

In a village of the lower Yukon there lived an orphan boy wiio always 
sat upon the bench with the humble jieojile over the entrance way 
in the kashim. The other people thouglit he was foolish, and lie was 
despised and ill-treated by everyone. After the shamans had tried 
very hard to bring back the sun and the moon but failed, the boy began 
to mock them, saying, " What line shamans you must be, not to be able 
to bring back the light, wlieu even 1 can do it." 

At this the shamans became very angry and beat him and droye him 
out of the kashim. This poor orphan was like any other boy until lie 
put ou a black coat ^vhich he had, ^yhen he changed into a raven, pre- 
serving this form until he took olf the coat again. 

When the shamans drove tiie boy out of the kashim, he went to the 
house of his aunt in the village and told her what he had said to them 
and how they had beaten him and driyen him out of the kashim. Then 
he said he wished her to tell him where the sun and the moou had gone, 
for he \vished to go after them. 

.She deuied that she knew where they were hidden, but the boy 
said, " I am sure you know where they are, for look at what a finely 
sewed coat you wear, and you could not see to sew it in that way if 
you did not know where the light is." After a long time he prevailed 
upon bis aunt, and she said lo him, ■• Well, if you wish to find the 
light you must take your snowshocs and go far to the south, to the 
place you will know when you get there." 



4J^I THK ESKIMO AIlol'T IJKUISO STRAIT («iii *.xx. i» 

'I'lio Kavcii tnty at uiice took liis kihiwkIioc's and set olT for the suiith. 
I'm many tlays lie liavi-lf<l, ami the daikiicss was always the same. 
\N hen ho liail none a very l<>ii;j way he saw far iii front of hiiu a ray of 
h;,ht. ancl tlieu lie fell ene4iur;ij,'e<l. As he hurried on the li^ht showed 
aKaiii.lilaiiier than before, and then vanished and appeared at intervals. 
At last he came to a lar;;e hill, one side of which was in a bri;;ht li(;ht 
while the other appeared in the Idaekness of ni;;ht. In front of liim 
and elose to the hill the hoy saw a hut w-ith a man near by who was 
shiA'elinf,' snow from the Iront of it. 

The man was tossin;; the snow hi;;h in the air, and eaeli lime that he 
di<l this the li^lit beeame obseiired, thus eausin>{ the altcriiatiuns of 
lif^ht and darkness wliieh the boy had Keen as he approached. Close 
beside the house he saw the li;iht he had come in search of, looking; 
like a larjie ball of lire. Then I he boy stojijied and be;;an to plan how 
to secure the li(;hl and the shovel from the man. 

Alter a tiuu> he walkeil up to the man and said, •• NN'hy are you 
throwiii^i up the snow anil liidiii;j the Ii;iht from our villagef" The 
man stopped, looked up, and said, ■' I am only cleaning away the snow 
from my door; 1 am not hiding the li;;ht. Hut who are you. and whence 
did you <-ome7'' '*lt is so dark at our villa;;e that I did not like 
to live there, so I came here to live with you," said the l)oy. "What, 
all the time ?'■ asked the man. " Yes," replied the boy. The man then 
said, " It is well; come into the house with me.'' and he dropped his 
shovel on tlie ground, and, stoopiufj down, led the waj' tliroii;,di the 
under;;ound p:issag(^ into the house, letting the curtain fall in front of 
the door as he p:issed, thinkin;; the boy was elose behind him. 

The moment the dom* tlap fell behind the man as he entered, the boj- 
ean;:ht up the ball of li^htanil put it in the turned upllai>of his furcont 
in front; then, catchiii;; up the shovel in one hanti, he lied away to the 
north, runnin-^ until his feet became tired ; then by means of his ma;:ic 
coat he <h;in;;cd into a raven and flew as fast as his winj;s would carry 
him. liehind lie heard the fri^ihtful shrieks ami cries «d" the old man. 
followin;; fast in jmrsuit. When the old man saw that he could not 
overtake the Kaveii he cried out. " >'e\ cr mind ; you may keep the light, 
but give me my shovel." 

To this the boy answered, "No; yon miule our vilhige dark anil 
you can not have your shovel,"' and IJaveii Hew otV, leaving him. As 
Haven traveled to his home he broke otV a piece of tin- li^dit and threw 
it away, thus making day. Then he went on for a long time iinlark- 
ness and tln'ii threw out another piece of light, making it day again. 
This he coiitiniied to do at intervals until he reached the outside of the 
k:ishim ill his own village, when he threw away the last piece. Then he 
went into the kashim and said, *■ Now, you good foriiothiiig shaman.s. 
you see I have brought ba<-k the light, and it will be light and then 
dark so as to make day and night," and the shamans could not answer 
hiiM. 

A Her tins the iJ.iven boy went nut upon the ice, for his home was on 



"""■""■' BRIX(;iN(i OK LKillT liV K.WKN 435 

the sea.-oast and a ;:,ear wind an.s.. ,1, imnjr lum witl, tl,. i.o a.nws 
the sea t.. tlu. lau.l on th. otluT shor... There he h.an.l . villa-'e of 
people and took a wile tVo„, a-non^ then,, livinfj with her people until 
be had three dau.uhters an.l lonr sons. In ti.ne he heean.e very old and 

told his children how he had eome t<. tlieir eountrv. and alter tell 

them that they must -o to the land wheuee he came, he died. 

Itavei.-s children then went away as he had directed them, and linallv 
they eanie to tiieir lather's land. There thev became ravens, and theiV 
descendants afterward forgot how to chanse themselves into people 
and so have ('outinued to be ravens to this day. 

At Kaven's villa-e day and night follow eaVh other as he told them 
It would, and the length of each was unecpml, as sometimes Raven 
traveled a long time without throwing out any light and again he threw 
out the light at frequent intervals, so that the nights were very short, 
and thus they have continued. 

THE KEI) BEAR (TAKIMCA) 

(Fioiu Andn-ivsky. on tlif Iowit ViiUmn 

On the tundra, south of the Yukon mouth, there once lived an ori)han 
boy with his aunt. They were quite alone, and one summer day the l)oy 
took his kaiak and traveled away to see where i)eople lived on the 
Yukon, of whom he had heard. When he came to the river, he traveled 
ii|) its coarse until he reached a large village. There he landed and 
the ])eople ran down to the shore, seized him, broke his kaiak to jiieces, 
tore his clothing from him, and beat him badly. 

The boy was kept there until the end of summer, the subject of con- 
tinual beating and ill treatment from the villagers. In tlu^ fall one of 
the men took pity on him, made him a kaiak, and started him home- 
ward, where he arrived after a long absence. When he reached home 
he saw that a large village had grown up by his aunt's house. As soon 
as be landed, be went to his aunt's house and entered, frightening her 
very much, for be bad been starved and lieateu so long that he looked 
almost like a skeleton. 

When bis aunt recognized him. she received his story with words of 
liity, then words of anger at the cruel villagers. Wiien he had tiiiislied 
telling her of his sufferings, she t(d(l him to bring her a piece of wood, 
which he did; this they worked into a small image of an animal with 
long teeth and long, sharp claws, painting it red upon the sides and 
white ou the throat. Then they took the image to the edge of the 
creek and placed it in the water, the aunt telling it to go and destroy 
every one it could find at the village where her boy had been. 

The image did not move, and the old woman took it out of the water 
and cried over it, letting ber tears fall upon it. and then put it back in 
the water, saying, "Now, go and kill the bad people who beat my boy." 
At this the image floated across the creek and crawled up the other 
bank, where it began to grow, soon reaching a large size, when it became 



4'<6 TlIK K8KIMI) ABOl'T IIEKING STRAIT Imi ajw. U 

a ri'tl iMiir. It turned aii'l liMiked at tlif olil woman until shecalk'tl out 
to It (o ;.'o anil Mpari' imuv. 

Tlif hear then wi-nt awuy until ho came to tlie village uii the (^re^it 
river. It met a man Just yoin;; for water antl it quiekly tore him to 
pieees; then the hear slaved near this villa(;e until he had killed mure 
tlian liair of the |ieople, ami the others were preparing to leuve it in 
order to escape desinn-tion. lie then swam across the Yukon and 
went o\ertlie tunilra to tiie farther side of Kn8kokwim river, killing 
every one he saw, lor the least sign of life M-emed to till him with 
fury iiniil it was destroyed. I'rom the Kiiskokwiin the hear turned 
hack, and one day it stood on the creek hank where it had hecoiiie 
endowed with life. .Seeing; the people on tlie other hank he be<;aiiie 
tilled with fury, tearin;; the fjrouini with his claws and Kfowliiif;. and 
he;,'aii to cross the creek. When the villagers saw this they were much 
lrighteiie<l and ran ahont, saying, -Here is the old woman's dog; we 
shall all he killed. Tell the old woman to stop her dog." Anil they 
.sent her to meet the hear. The hear did not try to hurt her, hut was 
passing hy to get at the other people when she caught it hy the hair 
on its neck, saying. -'Do not hurt these people who have heen kind to 
me and have given me lood when I was hungry." 

After this she led the hear into her house and, sitting down, told 
him tiiat In- had done her hidding well and had pleased her, hut that 
he must not injure ]ieoplc any more unless tlu-y tried to hurt or ahuse 
him. When she had linished telling him this she hd him to the door 
and sent him away over the tnndia. Since this time there have always 
heen red i)ears. 

■JUK i.A.-<T <>!•■ TlIK T1HNI)1;KI!IRU.>< (MC-TI^GU'-0-\VIK) 
( I'roiii tbi' liiwor Yukon i 

Very long ago there were many giant eagles or thunderhirds living 
in I he mountains, hut they all disapi)eared except a single pair which 
made their home on the mountain toji overlooking the Viikon river near 
Sai>otiiisky. The top of this mouiitain was round, and the eagles had 
hollowed out a great hasin on the summit which they used for their 
nest, around ihe edges of which was a rocky rim from which they could 
look down upon the large village near the water's edge. 

From I heir lurch on this rocky wall these great hirds would .soar 
awa.i ■m their hroail wings, looking like a chuid in the sky. .sometimes 
to Heize a reindeer from some passing herd to hring hack to their young; 
again they would circle out, with a noise like thunder from their shaking 
wings, and descend upon a lisherman in his canoe on the siirt'aee of the 
river, carrying man and canoe to the top of the mountain. There the 
man would he eaten hy the young tliiinderhirds and the caiiiK' would 
lie hlcaching among the hones and otlicr refuse .scattered along the 
horder of the nest. 

livery fall the young hirds would lly away into the ii<nthland, while 
the old ones would remain. Then came a time, after many hunters had 



NELSON] Tiij. LAST OF TlIK TlirNDKKHIliDSl 487 

been carried away by tl.e bir.ls. that oaly tl.e most .lari..^- wouM .o 
upon the great river. One summer day a brave younj;- hunter started 
..nt to look at his lish traps on the river, but before he went he tohl his 
wile to be eareful and not leave the house f„r fear of the birds Vfter 
her husband had go>H> the youn- wife saw that the water tub was 
enii)ty, so she took a bucket and went to the river for water. As she 
turned to so back, a roaring- noise like thunder lilled tlie air. and one of 
tlie birds darted down and seized her in its talons. The villagers cried 
out in sorrow and despair when they saw her carried to the mountain top. 

When the hunter came home the people hastened to tell him of his 
wife's death, but he said nothing. Coing to his empty luuise he took 
down his bow and a (piiver full of war arrows, and alter examining 
them carefully he .started out toward the eagle mountain. Vainly did 
his friends try to stoj) him by telling him that the birds would snrely 
destroy him. He would not listen to them, but hurried on. With lirni 
steps at.last he gained the rim of the great nest and looked in. Tlie 
old birds were away, but the fierce young-eagh's met him with shrill 
cries and tiery, shining eyes. Tlie hunters heart was full of anger, and 
be quickly bent his bow, loosing the war arrows one after another until 
the last one of the hateful birds lay dead in the nest. 

With heart still burning for revenge, the hunter shelteied himself 
by a great rock near the nest and waited for the parent birds. Tlie 
old birds came. They saw their young lying dead and bloody in the 
nest, and uttered such cries of rage that the sound echoed from the 
farther side of the great river as they soared up into the air looking 
for the one who had killed their young. Very quickly they saw the 
brave hunter by the great stone, and the mother bird swooped down 
upon him, her wings sounding like a gale in the spruce forest. (i)\iickly 
fitting an arrow to his string, as the eagle came down the hunter sent. 
it deep into her tl roat. With a hoarse cry she turned and Hew away 
to the north, far beyond the hills. 

Then the father bird circled overhead and came roaring down upon 
the hunter, who, at the right moment, crouched close to the ground 
behind the stone and the eagle's sharj) claws struck only the hard rock. 
As the bird arose, eager to swoo|) down again, the hunter sprang from 
his shelter and, with all his strength, drove two heavy war arrows 
deep uuder its great wing. Uttering a cry of rage and spieading 
abroad his wings, the thunderbird tloate(l away like a cloud in the sky 
far into the uorthland and was never seen again. 

Having taken blood vengeance, the hunter's heart felt lighter, and he 
went down into the nest where he found some fragments of his wife, 
which he carried to the water's edge and. l)uil(ling a fire, made food 
offerings and libations of water pleasing to the shade. ' 

. The truth of ftis tale U^^iV^^^^U^hy tin, ICski.nu ,.f th. l,.w« Y„l<on. Th.-y ,M,int m.t 
the crater of an old volcano as the „e..t of the ,n...t eauU-s and »a.v that the nhs "'"'■-''- ^^ 
cnriouslr colored stones carried there hy the hirds may stdl I..: .-een ahont the n n ol the n.st rh« 
™on, of the\ arions lesend» of the giant cash-, or thunderhirds that are fannhor to the iskuno of 
t'h." Yukon an.l t,. tlH.s.-.f I'.erin^' str:,.! ;u,d Kot/.ehne sound. 



488 THE KSKIMO AllOlT llEUING 8THAJT (itii.junc.u 

TIIK l.AMi <>V TIIK DKAK 
Iroiii Amlii'ivaky, mi tin- lowrr Yiikmii 

Tin- lullitwiii;,' tall' in known all alunp the lower Yukon, ami was 
irl.iitil l»y an «ilil «lianian who .xaiil that it (McinrtMl Mjvcral f,aMUTatioi)» 
a;;i>. It is l»»'li»'ve(l liy tht- llskinio to havi* bi-fn an actual octiirrtMice, 
anil il j;iv»'S a lair idea of their iK-liel' (if thr ••onilition of the sliaile after 
• hath. 

A yoiinn wiinian liviiifr at a villa{;e on the lower Yukon became ill 
ami <lii<l. NNhen death lame to liei .she lost eon.seiousness for a time; 
then she was awaki-in-ii liy mium- om- shaking; her, .saying. ••<let up, do 
not sleep; you are dead." When she oiiened her eyes .she saw that she 
was lyint; in her ;irave Imv, and hrr dead j;rand father's shade was 
standin;; liesidt- her. lie jiut out his hand to help her rise from the box 
and told her to look about. She diil so, and saw many jieoide whom 
8he knew niovin;; about in the vilhi-ie. The old man then turne«l I er 
with her back to the villane and she saw that tin- country she knew so 
well had di.sajipeared and in its i>la<o was a stranpe viliaffe. extending 
as far as the lye could reach. They went to the village, and the old 
iinih told her to go into one of the houses. So .soon as she entered the 
house a woman sitting there picked uji a piece of wood and raised it to 
strike her, saying, angrily, *• What do you want here?" She ran out 
crying and t(dd the rdd man about the woman. lie said, -This is the 
villag»' of the dog shades, and from that you can .see how the living dogs 
fed whin beaten by jicople.'' 

l''rom this they passed on and came to another village, in which stood 
a large kashiin. ("lose to this village she saw a man lying <mi the ground 
with grass growing up through all his joints, anil, though he could 
move, he could not arise. Her grandfather tohl her that this shade 
was punished thus for pulling up and chewing grass stems when ho 
was on the earlli. Looking curiously at his shailefor a time, she turned 
to speak to her grand father,! lilt he had disai)peared. ICxtendingonwarii 
before her was a path leading to a ili-.tant village, so she followed it. 
She soon came to a swift river, which .secmetl to bar her way. This 
river was ma<U' niiof the tears of the jieople who weej) on earth for the 
dead. When the girl saw that she could not cross, shesaton the bank 
and began to weep. When she wiped her eyes she saw a mass of straw 
and other stiilV like refuse thrown from houses, floating down the 
stream, and it stopped in I'ront of her. Upon this she cros.sed the 
river as ovi-r a bridge. When she reached the farther side the refuse 
vanished and she weiil on her way. Itefore she reached the village 
the shades had sinelled her and cried out, ".Someone is coming." 
NN'heli she reached tliem tliey erowdeil about her, saying, " Who is 
she.' Wlieiice docs she come.'" They examined her clotliing. linding 
the totem marks, which showed where she belonged, f(jr in ancient 
da\ s people always had their totem marks on their clothing and other 
artules, so that members of every village and family were thus known. 



""•"-"*■' THE l..\Xl) UK THE DKAl) 489 

Just then someone said, " WluTe is sl,o .' WI.ere is .sl„. ."•-a.ul she 
saw ber grand fatlHT's sl.a.le ,.o,nin.u- towanl l,or. Takins her l.v the 
band, ho led lier into a, house n.'ar l.y. < )„ the fartlier si.l.. of the n.on. 
she saw an ohl woman, who oav several -runts and then sai.l, "Come 
and sit by me." This obi won.an was her grandn.other, and she asked 
the j;nl if she wanted a drink, at llie same time beKinnin- to weep 
M ben the girl became thirsty slie h.ok.'d about and saw some stran-e 
looking tubs of water, among whieh only one, nearly empty, was made 
like tliose in her own village. 

Her grandmother told her to drink water Iroiii this tub (,nly, as that 
was their own Yukon water, while tlie other tubs were all full of water 
from the village of the shades. Mhen she liceame hungry her grand- 
mother gave her a ])iece of deer fat, telling her that it had beeirgiven 
them by her son, the girl's father, at one of the festivals of tiie dead, 
and at tbo same time he had given them the tub of water from wiiich 
she bad just drunk. 

The old woman told the girl that the reason her grandfather had 
bectmie ber guide was l)eeause when slie was dying she liad tiumght 
of bim. When a dying person thinks of his relatives who are dead the 
tbonght is heard in the land of shades, and the person t bought of l>y the 
dying one hurries off to show the new shade the road. 

When the seasou eame for the feast of the dead to be given at the 
dead girl's village, two messengers were sent out, as usual, to invite 
the neighboring villagers to the festival. The messengers traveled a 
long time toward one of the villages, ami it beitame dark before they 
reached it, but at last they heard the drums beat and the sound of the 
dancers' feet in the kasliim. Going in, they delivered to the ]>eoi)le 
their invitation to the feast of the dead. 

Sitting invisible on a bench among these jieople, witii flic girl between 
tbeni, were the shades of the grandfather and graudmotiier, and when 
the messengers went bac^k to their own village the next day the three 
.shades followed them, but were still invisible. When the festival had 
nearly been completed, the mother of the dead girl was given water, 
which she drank. Then the shades went outside of the kashim to wait 
for their names to be called for the ceremony of the imttingof clotliing 
upon namesakes of the dead. 

As the shades of the girl and her grandparents went out of the kasiiim 
the old man gave the girl a push, which caused her to fall and lose her 
senses in the passageway. When she recovered slu! looked about and 
found herself alone. She arose and stood in the corner of the entrance 
way under a lamp burning there, and waited for the other .shailes to 
come out that she might Join ber companions. There she waited until 
all of the living people came out dressed in line new clothing, but she 
saw none of her companion shades. 

Soon after this an old man with a stick eame hobbling into the 
entrance, and as he looked up he saw tlie shade standing in the corner 



-J:I0 TIIK ESKIMu AUUUT ItEUIXU STKAIT fi» xss.li 

witli lit-r fci't liiisfd iimrt' tbiiii it span aljovo tlii' lltxir. He aakcil her 
if hill- wart a live |icr8uii or a sliutle, but she iliil not reply, and he 
wi-iit hurrie<II> iiiti> the kashiu. Thi-iu he toltl tlie men to haHten out 
and hMik at the stninKe being Ntandin^ in tiie pa.s.sa;;eway, whose feet 
ilid not rest on the earth and who did not belong to their village. All 
the men hurried out, and, M-eing her, some of them tiHjk down the 
lamp and by its li;,'ht she was rccogni/ed and hurried into tin- hou>e of 
her parents. 

\Vlieii the mrn tirst saw her she appeared in form and eulor exaetly 
as when alive, but the moment she sat down in In-r father's house her 
eolor faded and she shrank away until she beeanie nothing but skin 
and bone, and was too wi-ak to sjteak. 

I'iariy th<- next morning her namesake, a woman in the same village, 
died, and her shaib; w<nt away to the laiid of the dea<l in the girl's 
j)laef, and tin- latter gradually be<'ame strong again and live«l for many 
years. 

THE .STUA.NtiE HOY 
( I'liim AjiilrfivMky, on tUc lnwiT Viikoii^ 

At a village tar away in the north once lived a man with his wife and 
one child, a son. This bo}' was very ditl'erent from others, and while 
the village children ran about un<l shouted and took part iu s]torts 
with one another, he would sit silent and thoughtful on the roof of the 
kashini. lie would never cat any food or take any <lrink but that given 
him by his mother. 

The years passed by until he grew to manhood, but his manner was 
always the same. Then his mother began to make him a pair of skin 
boots with soles of nniii}' thicknesses; also, a waterproof coat of double 
thickness and a line coat of yearling reindeer skins. ICvery day he sat 
on the roof of the kashim, going home at twilight for food and to sleep 
until early the next morning; then he would ;,'o back to his place on 
the root' and wait for daybreak. 

One iiioiniiig he went honn- just after sunrise and ftmiid his new 
clothing ready. lie took some food and put on the clothing, after which 
he told his mother that he was going on a Journey to the north. His 
mother cried bitterly and begged him not to go, for no one ever went 
to the far northland and retnrm-d again. He did not mind this, but 
taking his bear spear and saying farewell, he started out, leaving his 
pjuents weeping and without hope of ever seeing him again, lor they 
loved him very much, and his mother had told him truly that no one 
ever c;iim' back who had gone away from their village to the north. 

The young man traveled far away, and iis evening eanie on he reached 
a hut with the smoke rolling tii) through the hole in the root'. Tak- 
ing oil" his waterproof coat, he laid it down near the door nnd crept 
carefully upon the roof and looked through the smoke hole. In the 
miildlc of the room IniiiiccI a lire, and nii old woman was sitting on the 



* '•'''^' THE STRANliH liOY 49I 

forther side, wliil,. just under liim was sininc an old nnm making 
arrows. As the youn- .nan lay,,,, the r<..,f. th. num on the inshle 
cried out, without even raising his head, -Why d.. you lie there on the 
outside. Come in.-' Surprised at being m.tiie.l bv the ol.l man with- 
out the latter even looking up, he arose ami went in. When he entered 
the house the man greeted him and asked why he was going to the 
north in seareh of a wite. Continued the old man, -There an- many 
dangers there and you had better turn back. 1 am your fathers 
brother and mean well by you. P.eyond here pcopk- aic very bad. and 
if you go on you may never return." 

The young man was very mueh surprised to be told the object of his 
journey, when he had not revealed it even to his parents. Alter taking 
some food he slept until morning, then he prejjared to go on his way. 
The old man gave him a small black object, tilled with a yellow sub- 
stance like the yolk of an egg, saying, as he did so. '• Perhaps you 
will have little to eat on your way, and this will give you strength." 
The traveler swallowed it at once and found it very strong to the taste, 
so that it made him draw a deep breath, saying, as he did so. -Ah, 1 
feel strong." Then he took up his spear and went on. Just before 
night he came to another solitary hut. ami, as before, looked in. seeing 
a fire burning and an old woman sitting on one side and an old man 
making arrows just below him. Again the old man called out without 
raising his head, and asked him why he did not come in and not stay 
outside. He again was surprised by being told the object of his journey, 
and was warned against going farther. The young man gave no atten- 
tion to this, but ate and slept as before. When he was ready to set out 
in the morning the old man .saw he could not stay him. so gave him a 
small, dear, white object, telling the traveler that he would not get 
much to eat on the road, and it would help him. The young man at 
once swallowed this, but did not liiid it as strong as the object he had 
swallowed the day before. lie was then told by the old man that if he 
heard anything on the way that frightened, him he must do the lirst 
thing that came into his mind. 

"I will have no one to weep for me if anything should happen," said 
the traveler, and he journeyed (Ui. spear in hand. Toward the middle 
of the day he came to a large pond lying near the seashore, so he 
turned off to go arouml it on the inland side. When he had passed 
part of the way around the lake he heard a (risjhtful roar like a clap of 
thunder, but so loud that it made him dizzy, and for a moment he lost 
all sense of his surroundings. He hurried forward, but every lew 
moments the terrible noise was repeated, each time nuiking him reel 
and feel giddy and even on the point of fainting, but he kei>t on. The 
noise increased in loudness and seemed to com.- nearer at every roar, 
until it sounded on one side close to him. Looking in the direction 
whence it came, he saw a large basket made of woven willow roots 
lioating tow^ard him in the air, and from it came the fearful noise. 



I',l2 TIIK ESKIMO AHCJLT UEKIN(i STRAIT l»ni.A«(. 1« 

Seciiit; It lioli" ill tlif (;r<)iiiiil closi! l»y, tlu- travt-ler sprang into it Just 
a.M a ten iblf i-i'a>)i Hlnxik lliiMMitli aii<l ri-iiileictl liiiii iiiicuiiKi-iuii.s. lie 
lay as if th-ad Inr mhiic tiiin', wliiU- tlie liasket kept iiiovin;,' ahuiit as if 
si-ai'i'iiiii;; t'lir liiiii and coiitiiiiioii.sly ;;iviiig out tin- I'carfiii kouihIs. 
Wlieii llio yuiiii;; man's soiihcs I'ftiirneil, he listened t'«r a short time, 
ami, eviTy tiling; liaviii); heroine (|iiiet, went outside of his shelter and 
looked alxiiit. ('lose i)y wivs the basket resting on tin- ground with a 
man's head ami shoulders stiekin;;out of its top. The moment he saw 
it till- youii;,' man ericd out, "Why are you wailing? Clo on: don't 
.stop and give me a good loud noise, you." Then he sprang haek into 
the hole again ami was instantly struirk senseless by the fearful noise 
made by the baski-t. When he had recovered sullieiently he went out 
again, but could not see the basket. Then he raised both of his hands 
ami called upon the thunder and lightning to eoine to his aitl. .lust 
then tlie basket came near again, with only the imiii's head projeeting 
from the top. lie at oiiee told the thunder and lightning to roar and 
llasli about the basket, and they obeyed and crasluHl with siwh force 
that tho basket shaman began to tremble with fear and fell to the 
ground. 

As soon as the thunder stopped the basket began to retreat, the 
shaman being almost dead from fear. Then the young man cried out, 
•'Thunder, puisne liini; go before and behind him and terrify him." 
The thunder ilid so, and the basket lloated away slowly, falling to tlu' 
ground now and then. Then the traveler went on, arriving at a 
villa;:e just at twilight, A.s he drew near a boy eauie out trom the 
\illage to meet him, saying, '-How do you come here from that direc- 
tion f No one ever cam«^ here from that side before, for the basket 
shaman allows no living thing to ])ass the lake; no, not even a mouse, 
lie always knows when anything comes that way and goes out to meet 
and destroy it." 

"I did not see anything." said the traveler. "Well, you have not 
escai)ed yet," said the boy, "for there is the basket man now, and he 
will kill you unless you go ba«-k." \Vhen the young man looked he saw 
a great eagle rise and tly toward him, and the boy ran away. As the 
eagle came nearer it rose a short distance and then darted down to 
seize him in its claws. As it came down the young man struck himself 
on the brea.st with one hand and a gerfalcon darted forth from his 
mouth straight toward the eagle, living directly into its abdomen and 
passing out of its month and away. 

This gerlalcon was from the strong substance the young man had 
been given by the first old man on the road. When the gerfalcon 
ilarled from him the eagle closed his eyes, gasping for breath, which 
ga\i' the young man a chance to spring to one side so that the eagle's 
claws can;,'ht into the ground where lie had stood. Again the eagle 
arose ami darted down, and again the young man struck his breast 
with his hami, and an ermine sprang from his inoiith and darted 



"^'-"'"^ THE STKANGK Hf)V 493 

like a flash of lisht at tlio ea-le and lo.lse.l mnhn- its win-c and i„ a 
moment had eaten its way twi,;e back an.l f,„th throu;;!, the bir.l's 
side, and it fell dead, whereupon the ermine vanislunl. This ermine 
came trom the nift, „f the second man with whom tiie traveler had 
stopijcd. 

When the ea-le fell the .v..iin,<;- man started toward the shainan's 
house, and the boy cried to him, -Don-t -<> there. f..r vou will be 
killed.^' To this the traveler replied, >• I don't eare; 1 wish 10 see the 
women there. I will go now, for I am an.i;ry, and if I wait till morninsr 
my anger will be gone and 1 will iK.t be so strong as 1 am at picsmt." 
''You had better wait till morning." said the boy, " for there are two 
bears guarding the door and they will surely kill you. lint if you will 
go, go then, and be destroyed. I have tried to save you and will have 
nothing more to do with you." And the boy went angrily back to the 
kashim. The young man then went (ui to the hou.se. and looking into 
the entrance passage, saw a very large white bear lying there asleep. 
He called out, ''Ah, White-bear," at which the bear .sprang up and ran 
at him. The young man leaped uiwn the top of the jia.-^sageway and, 
a.s the bear ran out at him, drove the point of his spear into Its brain, 
so that it fell dead. Then he drew the body to one side, looked in 
again, and saw a red bear lying there. Again he called out, "Ah, Ited- 
bear." The red bear ran out at him and he sprang up to his former 
place. The red bear struck at him with one of its forepaws as it 
passed, and the young man caughtthepaw in his hand and, swingingthe 
bear about his head, beat it upon the ground until there was nothing 
but the paw left, and thi.s he threw away and went into the house with- 
out further trouble. Sitting at the side of the room were an old man 
and woman, and on the other side was a beautiful young woman whose 
image he had seen in his dreams, which had caused him to make his 
long journey. She was crying when he went in, and he went and sat 
beside her, saying, "What are you crying for; what do you love 
enough to cry for'?" To which she replied, "You have killed my hus- 
baud, but I am not sorry for that, for he was a bad man ; but you killed 
the two bears. They were my brothers, and I feel badly and cry for 
them."' "Do not cry," .said he. " for I will be your hu.sband." Here he 
remained for a time, taking this woman for his wife and living in tlie 
house with her parents. He slept in the kashim every fourth night 
and at home the rest of the time. 

After he had lived there for a while, he saw that his wife and her 
parents became more and more gloomy, and they cried very often. 
Then he saw things done that made him think they intended to do him 
evil. Becoming sure of this, he went home one day and. i)utting his 
haud on his wifes forehead, turned her face to him, and said: ■•Vou 
are planning to kill me, you unfaithful woman, and as a punishment 
jou shall die.-' Then taking his knife, he cut his wife's throat, and 
went gloomily back to his village, where he lived with his parents as 



.jyi THE F>KIMO AllOl T HKKING STKAIT (nii.*»j<.W 

licl'orf. W'lifii the iiioiiiory of his iiiifaithl'ul will* hail bi-coiiit- faint, he 
t<Mik a wiff from niiion^ tin- iiiai<lcii.s of th<- \illa;{f and livi-il happily 
with JM-r I hi- ii-Ht of liiH ilays. 

(iltliil.N Ol' TIIK Vr ISI YIIIK' UK ITIKATAII IKSTIVAI. 
I Kroiii Ikoumut, nti (liu lowi-r Viikuii 

[This festival is ohserveil liy the ICskiiiio of the lower Yukon from 
alioiit Iko^uiiit i.MiHsion) up to the limit of their ranp- on the river. 
Ileyoml thai the festival is ohserveil by the Tinm- at least as far as 
Anvik, they havin;; liorroweil it from the Ivskimo. Tlie festival is 
ehuraeteri/eil l>y the plaein^ of a wimmRmi iloll or iitia^e of a human 
liein;; in the kashiiii anil makint; it the eeiiter of various eeremonies, 
after uhirli ii is wrapped in bireh baik anil liiin;,' in a tree in some 
ritireil sjiol iinlil the loljowiiif,' year. Durinj.' the yejir the shamans 
soMietimes pretend to consult this inia;ie to ascertain what sureess will 
attend the season's hunting' or tisliin;;. If the year is to be a ^imkI one 
for deci' hiintin;;, the siiamans ]U'etenil to lind a deer hair within the 
w rappin;;s of tiie iniap-. In ease they wish to predict success in Osh- 
in;,', they claim to lind lish scales in the same place. At times small 
oll'erin;,'s ol' food in the shape of fra;;nieiits of deer fat or of dried lish 
are placed within the wrappin;;s. The place where the image is con- 
cealed is not generally known by the jieople of the village, but is a 
secret to all excejit the shamans anil, jierhaps, some of the oldest men 
who take prominent i)arts in the festival. An old headman among the 
.Mission Ivskinio informed me that the legend and festival originated 
among the people of a place that has long been deserted, near the 
present village of I'aimut, and that thence it was introduced both up 
and down the Yukon and across the tundra to the people living on 
lower Koskokwim river. The names of this festival are derived, first, 
Yii i/ii/hil; from jiu'<iiih: a doll or manikin, and rti-ki)tali' from i /»A7<- 
^|/., "'he comes in." thus meaning the tloll festival or the coming in 
festival, the latter referring to the bringing in of the doll from the tiee 
where it is kept during the year.] 

.\t the foot of the mountains below I'aimut. near where a small sum- 
mer village now stands, there was in ancient days a very large village 
of I'.skimo, which was so large that the houses e.Ntcnded from the river 
bank some distance up the hillside. 

In Ihi^ village lived two young men who were relatives and were also 
noicd shamans and last friends. I'or a long time they remained iinmar 
ried, but at last one of them took a w-ife, and in the course of time had 
a daughter who grew to womanhood, was married, and to her was born 
a son. .\s soon as this child was liom its grandfather killed it and 
carried the body out into the spruce forest and hung it to a tree, where 
it reinained until it was dried or munimilied. 

Then the old man took it ilow n, placed it in a sni.ill bag. w hicli lie 
linini about liis neck by a cord, and wore it secretly under his clutliing 



ORIGIN OF Tin: DOLL I'KSTIVAL 



495 



as an amulet, thus liaviiio f], ,..„,.,.,•,.„. ,.f ;, ■ ^ . , 

■~ i^iiMcc.x ot Us y7U((( to assist i in in liis 

Tl,o unmanied shan.an never took a vilo. and afu-r his .nend l.e.-an 
o wear ,he eluh about Ins-ucck, l,e lre,ue„„y saw a,no„. the sh ^ s 
that ean.e to do h,.s bidding that of a sn.all, new boru ehihl. What i 
was or ^vh.v ,t oan.e he eouhl not utubTstand, as i(, did not eonu- at his 
buUbug. llus was observed very often, and still he did nol know that 
Ills tnend liad tlie body. 

When oneof these men was praelienio- l,is rites an,i found it diffieult 
to obtain help from the shades, his friend would assist hiiu to aeeoui- 
Idish Ins object. One fine, warm day the uumarrie.l shaman went nn 
on the hillside back of the village and sat down. As ni-ht eame on he 
fell asleep, and as he slept he saw the air lilled with failing stars, and 
then that the .sky was sinking toward him until linallv it rested upon 
the hilltop so close that he had barely enough room" to move about 
below it. Looking around, he saw that every star was in reality a 
round hole in the sky ihrough which the light from above was shini'ng. 
liaising himself up, he put his head through the nearest star hole aird 
saw another .sky with many .stars shining above the first one. As he 
looked, this sky sank slowly down until he could ]mt his head through 
cue of the star holes in it, and above this were shining the .stars in 
.still another sky. This, too, sank slowly down, and standing up he 
found himself breast high above the third sky, and close by was a 
kashim surrounded by a village like the one in which he lived. 

From familiar signs he saw that the men had Just taken a sweat 
bath. A woman was at work covering the air hole in the loof of the 
kashim with the gut-skin covering, while other women were carrying 
in food. Alter lookiug about for a short time he decided to go into the 
kashim and see the peojile. Then raising himself through the star 
boles he walked to the kashim and entered it through the under- 
ground passageway. When he reached the inside he found the room 
full of peoi)lo sitting around on the floor and benches. lie started to 
cross the room to take a seat iu the ])lace of honor ojiiiosite the door, 
but a man sitting over the main eutrauce called to him to sit beside 
him, which he did. 

The women were still bringing in food, and the man who had sjjoken 
first to the shaman, said, iu a low voice, "If you are olfered food 
do not eat it, for you will see that it is not lit to eat." 'J'he shaman 
then looke<l about the room and saw lying at the sidi^ of each man a 
small wooden image, all of which represented diiferent kinds of mam- 
mals, birds, and fishes. Over the lanijis beside the entrance door were 
two slender sticks of wood more than a fathom iu length. Joined at the 
lower end and spread apart above like two outs])rcad arms, along 
the sides of which were fastened swan (juills, and the ujiper end of 
each stick bore a tuft of wolf hair. Tlie.se sticks were designed to repre- 



J'.tG THi; K.SKIM i:UING STUAIT 1ktii.a»». I« 

MMii tli(< i)iit)«|iri'a«l wiii^ri or (b<- Itavrii futlier who iiiade the world. 
I *v<T tht* i-iitraiK-e tu the rcxiiii hunt; aiiuthi-r puir uf these Hticks siuii- 
lailN 111 iiaiiieiited. 

l-'i'iiiii the r(Hif hunt; two HTv.a hoops exleiidiii^' entirely around the 
riioiii, one of which was a little below the other, and both were about 
iniilway belwern the roof and tho lloor. Mxt4-iidin}; from the rouf hole 
down to the upper hoop wi-re many Hiender rods, the lower ends of 
w hiih wore fastened to the hoop at regular intervals. Fasteiie*! to the 
hoops and rods in many plaees were tnfts of feathers and down. These 
hoops and rods repre.sented the heavens arching over the earth, and 
the tnfts of fiMthers were the stars mingled w itii snowllakeH. The eord 
suspending; the rin;;s passed tliron;;h a loop fastened to the roof, and 
tin- end passed down ami was held by a man sittin;; near the lam|i. 
This nnm raised and lowcri-d the rinj;s slowly by draw inj; in and lettint; 
out the cord in lime to tin- beatiii;; of a drum by another man sitting; 
on tlie oiipositc side of the lamp. ( Thi.s mox'ement of the rings wa.s 
synd)olicalof tlieajiparent approach and retreat of the heaxens aeeord- 
iiit; to the coinlition of the atmosphere.) 

Tlu- shaman had Just time to notice this much when he saw a woman 
come in with a dish of food which seemed like freshly-boiled meat. 
Looking about, slu- asked, •■ Where is tho guest?" — to winch he replied, 
"Here 1 am," and she handed him the dish. As soon as the steam 
cleareil away a little the shaman saw lying in the dish a new born 
boy who was wriggling ai>out. The shaman was so startled by tho 
sight that he ilitl not know what to do and let the dish turn toward 
tin- tloor so that the child slipped out and tell. At this moment 
the shaman felt himsell' driven head foremost from Ins seat down 
through the exit hole in the lloor. Starting up, he looked about and 
found himself reclining uiioii the mountain top near his village, ami 
day was ju>t breaking in the east, itising, he ha>teiie«l down to the 
village ami told his friend, the other shaman, what bail occurred to 
him, and the latter advised that they slumld unite in working their 
strongest charms to learn the meaning of this vision. Then they called 
the shaman's wife and went with her into the kashim where they worketl 
their spells, and it was revealed to them that during the February 
moon in each year the jteople of tho earth should hohl a great festival. 
They were directed to decorate the kashim Just as the shaman had .seen 
it in the sky house, and by the two shamans the pcojde wen- taught 
all the necessary observances ami ceremonies, «luring which food and 
drink olVerings wei-e made to the iuiKiM of the sky house and songs 
were .sung in their honor. If these instructions were properly followed, 
game and food would be plentiful on the earth. f(U- the ]ieople in the 
sky hou.se were the shades or iiiiiKx controlling all kinds of binls and 
fish and other game animals on the earth, and from the small images 
of the various kinds which the shaman had seen lying beside the sky 
people was the sii]»ply of each kiml replenished on earth. When the 



nelson! •[■IIl^ /.i.T ..»T 

' Illb OUKrlN OF WINDS 497 

Sky people or shades were satisded by the ollerinffs and .-..re.uonies of 
the eartl, ,,eop e, tliey would .-ause an i.na.uv of ,he kind of aniu.al 
that was needed to grow to the proper size, endow it will, life and send 
it.lown t<. the earth, where ii ...used its kind to heeome ajiaiu very 
iiunienms. •' 

IIJJKWK ,,{.■ \\in;)s 
I I'niiii (h.- IdWfi- Yukon) 

In a village on the lower Yukon lived a man and his wife who had 
uo children. After a lon^' time the woman spoke to her husband one 
day and said, "1 can not undeistand why we have no children; can 
your To which th.' husband replied that he eonld not. .She then 
told her husband to go on the tundra to a solitary tree that grew there 
and bring- back a part of its truidc and make a doll from it. The man 
went out of the house and saw a long track of bright light, like that 
made by the moon shining (in the snow, leading otf across the tundra 
in the direction he must take. Ahmg this jiath of light he traveled 
far away until he saw before him a beautiful object shining in the 
bright light, (ioing up to it, he found that it was the tree for which 
he came in search. The tree was small, so he took his hunting knife, 
cut off a part of its trunk and ('arricd the fragment home. 

When he returned he sat down and carved from the wood an imago 
of a small boy, for which his wife made a couple of suits of Inr clothing 
in which she dressed it. Directed by his wile, the man then carved a 
set of toy dishes from the wood, but said he could see no use for all 
this trouble, as it would make them no better oil than they were 
before. To this his wife replied that before they had nothing but 
themselves to talk about, but the doll would give them amusement 
and a subject of conversation. She then deposited the doll in the ])la('e 
of honor on the bench oppo.site the entrance, with the ti>y dishes lull 
of food and water before it. 

AVhen the couple had gone to bed that night and the room was very 
dark they heard several low whistling sounds. The woman shook her 
husband, saying, "Do you hear that? It was the doll;'" to which he 
agieed. They got up at once, and, making a light, saw that the d(dl 
had eaten the food and drank the water, and they could see its eyes 
move. The woman caught it up with delight and fomlled and jdayed 
with it for a h)ng time. When she became tired it was put back on 
the bench and they went to bed again. 

In the morning, when the couple got up, they found the doll was 
gone. They looked for it about the house, but could lind no trace of 
it, and, going outside, found its tra<'ks leading away from the door. 
These tracks passed from the door along the bank of a small creek 
until a little outside the village, where they ended, as the doll had 
walked from this |)lace 011 the path of light upon which the man had 
gone to find the tree. 
IS KTII ;!- 



498 THi: KSKIMO AUOCT llEKING STUAIT cth ju-rau 

Tlio man uikI his wife follnwiil no fartlii-r. but went boint-. Koll 
liail travi-liMl mi aluh); tin- liri;;lit patii until lit* eauie to the edce of 
day, wli<T<- lilt' sky ronicri down to tlic t'artli and walls in tho li;;lit. 
Clo.M- to wluTf III- wa-*, in tlit* t-ast. In- saw a ;;ut'Kkin rovt-r fasttMifd 
oviT tb<- lioU' in tliu sky wall, wliicli was )tul(;iii;; inward a]>|iarcnt!y 
owinj; to some- stron;; lon-e on tiie otln-r «idt'. Tlie iloll .sto|i|ii'd and 
said. "It is very i|uii't in lnTf. 1 think a little wind will make it hetter.'' 
So he drew his knife and eut the cover loose aliout tliocd(;eof the hole, 
and a stron;; wind hiew through, every now and then lirinjjin;,' with it 
ii live reindeer. l.iHtkin;; through the hole, Doll saw beytind the wall 
another World like the earth. Me drew the cover over the hole aj^'ain 
anil bade I lie wind not to Idow too hard, but he said ''.Sumetinies blow 
hard, Hoinetiiiies li^'hl, and sometimes do not blow at all.*' 

Then he walked aloii;; the sky wall until he came to another opening; 
at the siiutheast, which wa.s covered, and the eoverinjj pressed inward 
like the first. When he cut this cover loose the force of the gale swejit 
in, brint;in^ reindeer, trees, and biislieH. ('losini; the hole aj^ain. he 
bade it do as he had told the lirst one, and |>a.ssod on. In a short time 
he came to a hole in the south, and when the cover wa.s cut a hot wind 
came rushing in, ac<-ompaiiied by rain and the sjinty from the preat sea 
lyin;; beyond the sky hole on that side. 

Doll closed this opening; and instructed it as before, and jiassed on 
to the West. Then' he saw another oiienin;,'. and as soon as the cover 
was cut the wind hrou;,'ht in a heavy rainstorm, with sleet and spraj', 
from the ocean. This openiiif^ was also clo8c<l. with the same instriic- 
tions, and he i>assc<l on to the northwest, where he found another open- 
iiif;. When the cover to this was cut away a blast of cold wiml came 
rusliin;r ill, briiifrin;^ in snow and ice, so that he was chilled to the bone 
and half tro/en, and he hastened to <-losc it, as he had the others. 

.V^'aiii he went along the sky wall to the north, the cold becomin;; so 
{Treat that lie was oblij;ed to leave it and make a circuit, {,'oiii;r back to 
it where he saw the ojieiiiii;;. There the cold was so inteii.se that he 
hesitated for 8(»me time, but linally cut tin- e()ver away. .\f once a 
fearful blast rushed in, carryiii;: i^reat masses of snow and ice, strewing 
it all over the earth plain, lie closed the hole very quickly, ami hav- 
in;.' admonished it as usual, traveled on until he came to the middle of 
the earth ]dain. 

When lie rea<'hed there he lookeil up aud saw the sky arching over- 
head, supported by Ion;;, slender poles. arrauge<l like those of a conical 
lodge, liut made of some beautiful material unknown to hiui. Turning 
again, he traveled far away, until he reached the village whence he had 
start4(l. There he circled once comjiletely around the i>lace, and then 
entered one after the other of the houses, going to his own home last 
of all. This he did that the jieople should lieiniiic his friends, and care 
for him in I'ase his parents should die. 

.\lliT tiiis I (oil lived in the village for a very loii^ time. When his 



NELsriNj 

499 



ALASKAX rOLKLOl!)-: 



footer larents died he was taken l.y otl.er people, and .„ lived ,• ,• 

jux^^onpto nnd<e dolls .,,Ml,ei. eldldn. u, inn J^^^^^^^^ 

who made the one of whi.h 1 have told.' I'lopit 

I'liE stkom; .-vian 

(I'liMii the lower ViiU„n i 

I., ancient tinu-s a very strnn;, man (VukhpnlO lived in Uie Askinnk 
mountains, near the Yukon river. One day he pieked up a pirt of 
thes.. mountains and, plaeinj, then, on his shoulders, ,.arried then, out 
upon the level country, xvhere he threw them down. In this w.v he 
made the Knslevak mountains. Whe>i the mountain was thrown iVoni 
the man's shoulders, the ottort caused his feet to sink into the oiound 
so that two deep pits were left, which lilled with watei-, makin..- two 
small lakes, which now lie at the l.ase of this mountain. Fr,nu"there 
he traveled up the Yukon, -ivin.u nanu'S to all the places he jia.ssed. 

Till'. OWL (iIi;L 

The lower Yukon Eskimo have a legend that the short -ear owl was 
once a little girl who lived at a village by the river. 8he was changed 
by magic into a bird with a long beak and became .so frightened that she 
sprang up and dew ofl' in an erratic way until she struck the side of a 
hou.se, tiattening her liill and face so that she became just as these owls 
are seen today. 

TALE OF AK'-CIIIK-CIlf'-GfK 
i Fnim SlediTf islauil 

At the village of Kiilul'-i git- a terrible wind was blowing, which 
tilled the air with llying suow and kept everyone in the house. One 
hou.se in the village was occupied by a family of ei,sht people — the i>ar- 
ents and live sons and a daughter. The eldest son, named Ak -chdj- 
ehu'-guk, was noted for the great breadth of his shoulders, and the 
strength of his hands was greater than that of the most powerful walrus 
tiipiiers. The daughter was well known for her kindness and beauty. 

As the day passed, one of the brothers asked his mother lor some 
food, and she replied that none had been jirepareil. nor did she have 
any water with which to cook meat. Turning to the daughter, she 
told her to take a tub and go down to the water liole in the ice and 
bring some sea water that she might boil meat. The girl hesitated 
about going on account of the storm, and the brothers Joined with her 

'The i.ath of light .m-ini.)ii«l in this tale i» tli.' -alasy, which ligi 
n'uiut Iloiluev. on the casleru shore of Bcriuj; strait. 



.'.()() THE ESKr.MO ABOUT BEKINO STIlAI I tni.A.«.18 

ill ti yiiij; t<> pt-iKiiade tlu» iiiotlier to givt' up tlio hlva <>( liHviiiy wat»r 
hrmi^'lit iit tliat tiiiii', Ixii all to no purpose. 

Tlifii Ak (lilk iliir >;iik told tin- yoiiiiKt'"'t hiotlu'r to j;o iiiid lii-lp his 
sisltT, anil tin' |>uir It-It tin- lioii.-r. AltiT some ililliciilty in j4i''tiiiK to 
tilt* waliT liiilc tli<-y n-sti-d lor a tunc, and then slowly tilled tlie tiili; 
when It was full they turned \>iu:k and, with bowed heads, stru;i;,'led 
towanl the shore in the ta<e ol' the wind. Ah tliey were uiovinj; aloiij; 
the path, they suddenly started liaek in I'ear. for, in place of the .siiore, 
lliey s.iw the lilaek, opi'ii water ill a rapidly widening erack where the 
ieehad liioken and wasdi iliiii;; away t'roni the land. Dropping; the water 
till) they ran wildly bark and forth aloii^ the ed;;e of the iee until they 
were exhausted. After waiting; for soiiu; time, the people in the house 
lieeaine alarineil, and one of the brothers ran down to the shore where, 
by the o|ien water, he saw what had taken plaeo. lie liaistened baek 
and told his family and, as soon as the storm ceased, the brotherK 
searched the sea as far as they eoiild, but saw iiothiiiff of the inisaiiip 
ones. 'I'heii one of the brothers traveled alonjj the coast to the north 
and another went to the south, informin;; the vilhiKcrs they met of their 
loss, l)ut both returned without any titliiifrs. 

Spriiij; came, and their mother t<dd the brothers that they must search 
for their lost <Mies far aloii}^ the coast, for it was likely that they had 
been driven on shore somewhere. The brothers then set to work to 
build a line. lar;;e umiak; when it was linished they decided to try it 
before they starteil on their voyage. Launching the umiak the three 
youii^,'er brothers rowed while Ak'-chik chi'i'gi'ik sat in the stern with 
the broa<l blade steering,' paddle. They had gone only a short distance 
when a wild goose came llying by, ami the three brothers strained their 
arms in trying to e<|iial the bird in swiftness, but in vain. Suddenly 
.\k' (blk cliii' giik raised the broad paddle and the lirst stroke caused 
the umiak to leap I'orwartl so suddenly that his brothers were thrown 
lioin their seats into the bottom t»f the boat; alter this, he bound them 
lirmly to their seats and had them take in their oars. Then, under his 
strokes, the umiak darted through the water like an arrow, throwing a 
streak of foam away on both sides. \'ery soon the\' were close along- 
.-iile the goose, anil the bird Irii'd hard to escape from its strange com- 
panions, but was ijiiickly passed by the umiak and lett far behind. 

On another short preparatory trip they made along the coast (hey 
landed near a great rock. .\k chlk clnV giik told his brothers to tak<i 

up so small drift logs on the beach and follow him; then, taking up 

the rock, he placed it upon his shoulders and carried it up the shore, 
although his leet sank deep in the earth at every step, so heiivy was liis 

burden. .M s e distance troiii the water ho stopped and had his 

brothers t'orm a platform of their logs, on which he placed the stone, 
sayin;;: "Now I will not be forgotten, for the peo|de who come al'ter 
us will point out this rock and remember my name;" and this is true, 
for the villagers say that the rock lies there until this day and Ak chlk- 
chu'gnk's name is not forgotten. 



'"''""""' ''"-^LK OK AK'-(I11K-( lir -(UK 5()1 

TlK-n tlie brothers returned Lome an.l con,„l..te.l tl.eir ],re,,an,t,.,ns 
for 1.C journey. W„eu everything .as ready, Ak eh,l.'.,„' „ k Z 
Ins bro hers reuu.ve all their elothin«- and, tak.n, „. u,,;,, .i,h a 
s.n|;ie stroke he eut olV tl,e head of eaeh. Alter this he made their 
mother earry the bo.lies outsid,. and dismember then., puttinj; the 
fragu.ents n.to a great earthen pot, where tln.y were boded. Ariirst 
his n.other rdused, but Ak'-ehik-ehn' gfd. eompelled her to „b.v bin,. 
^^ hen she had done as slie ^^•as bid. she earn., in and told him;' then, 
ordering her to remain in th.. house and u,,on no aecount to eome out- 
snle until he gave lier permission, he went out an.l, bv the aid of a 
powertui m,u< that did his bidding, restored Ids brothers to life again. 

When all her sons entered the house alive onee nu)re, tiie mother 
was very glad. At the bidding of Ak'ehik.eh.V.gi.k she put .some 
decayed tish roe and some bird skin eoats into the umiak, and tliey 
started on their search, leaving their parents alone. The brothers 
jonrneyed on until they reached a large village, where they stoi)i)ed, 
and. going into the kashim, asked for tidings of their sister.' 

The people answered in an unfriendly way, and soon after one of the 
villagers cried out, " We must kill these men," and everyone seized his 
weapons and started toward the brothers. Ak ■chikcliiVgnk seemed 
not to notice the treacherous villagers until they were clo.se to him; 
then, raising his right arm and placing the elbow against his side, 
drew the entire arm into his body; as he did this everyone of the 
villagers was comi.elled to do the same, ami they stood helpless, 
without the use of their right arms. 

" Why do you not kill us '? Why do you wait .' '" and similar mocking 
taunts were directed to them by Ak'-chik clnVgiik. When the villageis 
had promised to let them go in peace, he thrust forth his own arm again, 
and at once everyone of the villagers was able to do the .sanu^; the 
people then told them that they might hear of their sister in the next 
village. 

After Journeying for several days they came to the village and went 
into the kashim, where again they made in<iuiries for their sister. As 
before, the people answered in an unfriendly tone and rushed at the 
strangers to kill them. Ak'chlk-chiVgfdi paid no iiltention to his 
enemies until they were close to him, when he suddenly <dosed both 
eyes and the villagers were forced to do the same, afier which he 
taunted them as he had taunted the men at the other village, then made 
them promise not to try to injure himself or his brothers, and restored 
their sight by ojieuing his own eyes. These jieople told tlieru that 
possibly they might get tidings at the next village, so the limthers 
went on. 

When they reached that i)Iace they made iuipiiry. and, as at the 
other villages, the people wished to kill them, and were (juite near the 
brothers with their weai)ons raised when Ak'-chik-clni'-giik put liisliands 
on each side of his face and turned his head about on his shoulders 



5o2 Tin; ESKIMO Aiturr hkimng stkait :ini.A>s u 

Ku that lii-i fa<)< liiokftl liiK'kwanl. Iiisiaiitly the lit-adK tif all the vil- 
hi;:tii« tiinieil aioiiiiil on thi-ir >hiiuhlt-r.s ami thi- baekn of tliiir heads 
rf^t<<l « luie their laces sliniihl liave been, while tlieir IxHlieH weie in 
thi- position of iiishiiit; luiuanl. < >ii pettiiij; tiic usual i)roini.se from 
thi-in. Ak ehik ( liii piik uphuetl the vilia;;<Ms" heads, and the Itrothers 
well- diietted to make im|iiiiies at tlie next jdare. 

In that viMa;;e they were atta<ked a^ain. :iml the vilhi^ers were 
lonc-d to put their liands liehind their J)a<ks by the strong inapie of 
tlu- eidiT lirotlier. Here the jieople told the brothers that their sister 
was in the next villa;;e, but that siie was the wile of a very [lowerfui 
and wirked shaman, and they tried to keep the brothers from goiMf; on, 
saying that harm wouUl come to tiiem if they did. No heeil was ^iven 
to tiiis, and they went on until the\' <-aine in sight of the villa;,'e. 

There they stopjied while Ak' ililkciiiV-gnk smeared his liamls and 
fare with the deeayed lish roe and ehangeil his line deerskin clothing 
for the ftid bird skin garments his motlier had put in the boat. Then 
he coiled himself up in the bottom of the boat, bending down his 
shouldirs until he l<.oked like a feeble old man. His brothers were 
instrneted what to do, and, rowing on, they soon landed at the village. 
Then the brothers started to carry Ak' ehlk chu -giik into the village, 
whi-n they were met by .several [leople, among whom was the bad shaman, 
lie askeil them why they carried with them such a miserable old nmn: 
to which they replied that he did not belong to them, but they had 
lound him on the shore ami brought him alr>ng with them. 

Asking about their sistir, they were told that they could see her 
when they hail carried the old man in the kashim. Ak' ihlkchn'gnk 
was placed in the kashim, where they left him lying apparently helpless. 
Then tiny were taken to another house and shown a young woman 
dressed in line furs, and were told that she was their sister. The two 
elder brothers believed this, but the youngest one was suspicious of 
.some wrong, but said nothing and went back to the kashim with the 
others. 

When the liiotliers were inside the ka.shim, the shaman went down 
to the beach, where he untied the lashings of the umiak, rolled the 
framework up in the cover, anil hid it. When night fell and everyone 
was asleep, the youngest brother crept out and went to the shaman's 
house. In the pas.sageway he heard a hoarse, choking sound, and at 
lirst was tVightened, but soon felt stronger and asked, •• Who is there f" 
No reiily came, and he went forward carefully until he reached the 
door beyonil which he had heard the strange souiid. lie listened a 
uiomeiit, anil tlicn itiisheil the door open and went in. 

There on the lloor lay his sister dressed in coarse, heavy .sealskins 
and bound hand and foot, with a cord drawn tightly about her neck and 
another fastened her tongue. \ery quickly she was released, and then 
told him that the wicked shaman had kept her in this way and treated 
her very cruelly; her brother put his Imnil on her breast and louml her 



TALE OF AK-ClIIK-ci[f'-(;rK 



fjOa 



SO emaciated that the bones .er.. aln.ost thn-n^h the skin. T.oavi„,. he,- 

i:£;;:;;t;;;:'' "■'■'" ''''•'^^'•'''•='"=''^'''^^^ .i-,t,„.nhe,a 

After this all the brothers kopt awake an.l watehful until nunnin^ 
As dawn appeared thebad siuunan canie to the window in tlu- root and 
cncMl out, «-Xow it is time to kill those stranj:ers." Vu,\ng into the 
kas uin. he sent a nmn for a larse, shar,..ed.ue pie.^e of whalebone, while 
he had another take away h.os.- planks from the nnddh- of tin- iloor 
whieh left a sciuare open j.it several feet deej., and about th.- .-d-e of 
this the shainau bound upri-ht the piece of whalebone with the s^har). 
edge. The brothers were then challenged to wrestle with him. 
Ak'-chdc-chu'-ofuk whispered that they should wrestle with him without 
fear, as he bad killed and restored them to lifo a<rain before leaving' 
home, so tliat men could not harm them. 

Oue of the brotheis stepped forward, and after a short struf^gle the 
shaman stooped (piickly, caujiht the yoiiuji man by the ankles, aud 
raising him from the lloor with a great swing, brought him down so 
that his neck was cut off across the edge of the whalebone. Casting 
the body to one side, the shainau repeate<l the challenge and killed the 
second brother in the same way. Again the shaman made his scorn- 
ful challenge, but scarcely had he finished speaking when Ak 'cliik- 
chii'-giik wiped the tish roe from his face and hands, and with a wrench 
tore the bird skin coat from bis body and sprang u]) as a powerful 
young man with auger shining in his eyes. 

When the shaman .saw this sudden change he .started l)ack. with his 
heart growing weak witliiu him; he could not escape, however, and 
very soon Ak'-chikchu'-gfik caught him in his arms, i)ressed in his 
sides until the blood gushed from his month, and. stooping, caught 
him by the ankles and whirled him over liis head aud across the whale- 
bone, cutting his ueck apart: then he brought the body down again 
and it fell iu two. Throwing aside the fragment in his hand, he turned 
to the frightened villagers and said, '"Is there any relative, brother, 
father, or .son of this miserable shaman who thinks I have done wrong? 
If there is. let him come forward and take revenge." 

The villagers eagerly expressed their Joy at the shaman's death, as 
they had been in constant fear of him, ami he had killeil every stranger 
who came to their village. Then Ak'-chik chiV-grdi sent everyone out 
of the kashiin, and sf)0U, by help of his magic, restored his two brothers 
to life: after this they went out aud released their sister, and chithed 
ing herin fine new garment. s. She told them of her long drifting on the 
ice with her brother :ind of their lauding near Uu a'-shuk,' the village 
at which they then were: also how the shaman had killed her brother 
and kept her a prisoner. 

The brothers were now treated so kindly l)y the i)eoi)le iu the village 



; b.iy. "II Uh- Sibi-riali alion- ol' Hv 



.',(ll THE r.SKIMO ABOl'T HKKING SfUAIT ietiiAxx.lg 

that tlii-y liii;c<Tr(l there Iroiii day to ilay until a cniisKkTabk' time bad 
I la|>sed. (liiriii;; whicli two of them made line Ijows and (jnivers luli of 
arrows, and anotlier made a strong, stone head spear. 

Oni- day nearly nil the men were K"t'>«*''e<l in the kashiin when the 
yotin;;est Inother hurried in and said that the sea was covered with 
umiaks, so that the tliishiii^' of their paddles looked like falling rain 
diops III the siin. The villa;;ers told the brothers that the umiaks 
were lioiti a nei^liWorin;,' plate and that the men in them meant no 
hai III to the people of ITi a' slink, liiit were eoinin^ to kill the strangers. 
Iltarin;,' tliiN, Ak' <hlk ehn'-jriik told the villagers to stay within then- 
houses and 8<Mit his brothers out to meet the enemy. The umiaks 
soon eanio to the shore and a lieree battle ensued. The umiak men 
tried in vain to kill or wound the brothers, while the latter killed many 
of them. Finally the youiij;eHt brother returned to the kashim. sjiyin^ 
tiiat his arrows were exhausted, but that their enemies were nearly all 
diad. Soon afterward the next younger brother came in and said that 
all his arrows were ;;oiie anil only a few of the enemy were left. He 
had scarcely lliiished speakin;^ when the third brother came in. his 
spear all bloody, and tuld them that only one man had been spared to 
carry home news of the fate of his comrades. (loiiij; out the villa^'crs 
saw the shore covered with the dead men anil were astonished, but they 
said nuthiiiL.'. 

Still the brothers liii;,'cred, disliking to begin the long homeward 
journey, and at last another tleet of umiaks, larger than the lir.st, bear- 
ing the Irieiids and relatives of the men slain in the first battle, came 
in -iglit ; these, the villagers said, were peojile coming for blootl revenge. 
Again Ak'-ehlkehiV-guk sent all of the villagers to their homes, telling 
them not to leave their lioii.ses. When they were gone he sat side by 
side with his brothers in the kashim imd awaited the enemy. * 

The iiiniaks came to the shore very iiuickly, and the warriors, fully 
armed, hnrried to the kashim to .seek their victims, coming in such nnm 
bcrsthat the last had hard work to get into the house. The brothers 
•sat still in the midst of their enemies, who became ipiiet when thej- 
weio all in the house and .seemed to be waiting for something. In a few 
moments two extremely old women came in, each carrying a small 
grass l>asket in her hands. One of them sat quietly in a corner while 
the warriors made room (or the other to come up in front of the broth- 
ers. She looked at them with an evil eye and drew from the basket a 
linger lione of one of the men killed in the lirst battle, setting it up on 
the llnor in front of tiie youngest brother: then taking out a human 
rill, she looked lixeiily at the young man and struck the bone with the 
rib. saying at the .same time, '• lie is dead." Instantly the young man 
fell over from his .seat dead. (Juickly she placed the .second bone in 
flout of another brother and he, too, lell dead from his seat. 

At this .Vk -chlkchiV giik uttered a cry of anger, and springing upon 
the witch, beliirc anyone could move, caught both iier hands and crushed 



"""■""' THE DISCONTKNTKI) OUASS PLANT 505 

them to a shapeless mass. Then he cauiiht up her ImsUh aii.l s,- .tf.eil 
ah..nt him in a eirde all the tin-or hm.es it eoniaiM,.!. W,il,„nt •, 
moments delay he took tla- rib and striking Ihe l.on.-s as ,,iii,.kly is 
possible, repeated, "He is d.-ad. He is dead. H.- is dead." And liis 
enemies Cell as he moved nniil not one of them was left alive. Then 
he exereised his maKie power and restored his brothers to life af;ain, 
after wliieli the villagers were called in. When the latter eame^aiMl 
saw the kashim tilled with dead men, they were fall of fear and told Ihe 
brothers that so many people had been killed by them that they feared 
to have them remain there any lonirer. 

The brothers consented to go, and i)reparin<j their umiak, they 
embarked with their sister. .Inst as they were leaving, the villagers 
told them to be sure to stoj) and build a large lire <m the beach as soon 
as they came in sight of their native village. Tliey traveled slowly 
back as th(>y had eome. and tinally they were i)leased to see their 
villagejust ahead of them. At this time the sister was walking along 
the shore with a dog, towing tlie boat by means of a long, walrus hide 
line. When she saw the houses she remembered the directions of the 
villagers about building a lire when tiiey came in sight of their home, 
and reminded her brothers of it, but Ak'-chnccliri'-gfik was eager to 
complete the Journey, and said impatiently. '• 2S'o, no, we will not trouble 
ourselves to do that; 1 wish to hurry home."' When the sister turned 
and started to go on she had scarcely taken a step forward when her 
feet felt so heavy that she could not raise them. She shrieked in fear, 
and said, ''My feet feel as if they were becoming stone." .\s she spoke 
she changed into stone from head to foot. Then the same change 
occurred with the dog, and out along the line to the boat, changing it 
and its occu])ants into stone. There until this day, as a rocky ledge, is 
the boat where it stopped, the brothers facing their home, and a slender 
reef rnnning to the land where thetowline dropped, while on shore are 
the stony tigures of the girl and the dog. 



THE DISCI iNTKNTEl) GKAS« PLANT 



Near the village of Tastolik, at the Yukon moiitlL grows a tall, slen- 
der kind of grass. Every fall just before winter commences the women 
from the villages go out and gather great stores of it, pulling or cut- 
ting it ofl' close to the ground, and making large bundles which they 
carry home on their backs. This grass is dried and used for braiding 
mats and baskets and for pads in tlie soles of skin boots. 

One of these Grass-stalks that had been almost pulled out of the 
ground by a woman, began to think that it had been very unfortunato 
in not being something else, so it looked about. Almost at lirst glance 
it spied a bunch of herbs growing near by, looking so .piiet and undis- 
turbed that the (Jrass began to wish to be like them. As soon as this 



50«i THE KSKIMO AIUilT HKKIXfJ 8TKAIT Ibtu asw.w 

wisli liiul Ixfii fiu'iiD-il tlu' (int.HS'Ktfiii lK>«-amc :iii Herb like tliosc it had 
eiivifil, :kti<l tur a Hliort time it reiiiaiiiol in jieace. 

One (lay it saw the wmneii eoininK hack earryin;; sharp iiuitiled piiks, 
witli whiih tliey bewail tuili;; up tliese herbs and eat mmie of tlie r<Mits, 
while ntlirrs were put into baskets and earried home. The elian;;e- 
liii;; was left when the women went home in tiie ovenin;;, and having 
seen the fate of its conipHnions, it wished it had taken another form; 
Do looking; about, it saw a snudl, ereepiiij: plant whieh pleaseil it, beinn 
sfi tiny and obseure: without delay it wished and beeame one of them. 
A);ain passed a time of ipiii-t, and a;;ain came the women tearin;^ up its 
i-ompanions Init overlooking the ihan;;t'iinK. Onee more the latter was 
tilled with fear and liy wishiii;,' beiame a small tuber-bearing plant like 
others ;;rowin^ near. Scarcely had this (•han;;e been nia«le when a 
small tundra mouse came softly throti};h the grass and began di;rging 
U|i one of the tubeis of a similar plant near by. holding it in its fore- 
paws and nibiding it. alter which the mouse went on again. "To bo 
secure I must become a mouse," thought the changeling, and at once 
it became a Mouse and lan olf. glad of the new change. Now and 
then it would pause to dig up and eat one of the tuber.s as the other 
mouse had done, or it would sit up on its hind feet to look around at 
the new scenes that came in view. While traveling nimbly along in 
this manner, the .Mouse saw a strange, white object couiing toward it, 
which kept dropiiing down upon the ground, and after stopjiing to eat 
soii:ctliing would lly on again. When it came near the Mouse saw that 
it was a great white owl. At the same moment the owl saw the Mouse 
and swooped down upon it. Darting oil', the Mouse was fortunate 
enough to escape by riiniiing into a hole made by one of its kind, so 
the owl ilew away. 

After a while the Mouse vi.-ntiircil to come out of its shelter, though 
its heart beat painliilly from its recent fright. •• 1 will be an owl," 
thought the Mouse, "ami in this way will be safe." So again it changed 
with the wish into a beautiful white Owl. and with slow, noiseless wing 
llaps set oil toward the north, pausing every now and then to cateh 
and <'at a iiionse. After a long tlight Sledge island came in view, and 
the Owl thought it would go there. \Vlien far out at sea its untried 
wings became so tired that only with great dilliculty did it manage to 
reach the shore, where it perched upon a piece of drift wikuI that stood 
up in the sand. In a short time it saw two fmelookiiig men pass along 
the shore, and the old feeling of discontent arose again. •• 1 will be a 
man," it thought, and, with a single lla)i of the wings, it stood upon 
the ground, where it changeil immediately into a line young .Man, but 
was without clothing. Night came ovi-r the earth .soon after, and Man 
sat down with his back against the stick of wood on which, as an 
Owl, he had perched, and slept there until morning, lie wa.s awakene<l 
by till- warm sun, and upon rising Chrin-uh' Ink. as he called himself, 
felt stilf and lame from sitting in the colil ni;:ht air. 



''"^'•'"''"^ THE DISrONTKNTKD (,RASS Pl.AXT 507 

Lookino; about, he found .some -rass. which he wove int.. a kind „f 
loose inantle. whi.'h helpe.l to keep out tlie cold, aftev whul. he saw so.ue 
reindeer ora/.m- near by and felt a sudden desire to kill and eat one 
ol them. Ue crept ch.sely on his lian.ls and knees, and sprin"-in- Inr- 
Nvard on the nearest one seize.l it by (he lu.rns and broJce its ne"k w'ith a 
sniijle effort, threw it over his slioulder.s. returned, ami cast it down m-ar 
his sleeping- phiee. Tlien he telt all over I lie reindeer-s body and found 
that its skin fonned a covering- wlijch his lingers were unable to pene- 
trate. For a long time he tried to think of a way to remove the skin, 
and finally noticed a .sharp-edge stone, which he picked up and found 
that he could cut through the skin with it. The deer was ijuickly 
skinned, but he felt the lack of a lire with which to cook the ilesh. 
Looking around, he found two round, whiti' stones upon the beach 
and. striking them together, saw that tliey gave out numerous si)arks. 
With these and some dry material found along tlie shore he succeeded 
in making a fire, upon which he roasted some of the meat. He tried 
to swallow a very large piece of the meat just as he had eaten mice 
when he was an Owl, but found that he could not do it: then he cut 
off some small fragments and ate them. Another night passed, and 
iu the morning he caught another reimlcer. and the day following two 
others; both of these last deer he threw over his shoulders, and at once 
carried them back to his camping place on the shore. Chun-uh'-luk 
found the nights very cohl, so he skinned the last two reimleer and 
ivrapped himself from head to toot in their skins, which diied u]ion 
him very soon and became like a part of his body. Hut the nights 
grew colder and colder, so that (Jhun-fdi'-lnk collected a (juaiitity of 
driftwood along the .shore, with which he made liiin.self a rough hut, 
which was very comfortable. 

.Vfter finishing liis house he was walking over the hills oik^ day when 
he .saw a strange black aninnil among .some blueberry bushes eating 
the berries. Chuil-fdi'-liik did not at lirst know whether lie should 
interfere with this unknown animal (u- not. but finally he caught it by 
one of its hind legs. With an angry growl it turned about and faced 
him, showing its white teeth. In a moment C'hiiri-uh'-lfik caught the 
bear by the coarse hair upon each cdieek and swung it over his h.ead, 
bringing it down to the ground with such force that the bear lay dead; 
then he threw it across his shoulders and went home. 

In skinning the bear Chuil-uh'-b'ik found that it containeil nnich fat, 
ami that be might have a light in his house if he could find something 
to hold the grease, for he had tbuud it very dark inside and trouble- 
.some to move about. Going along the beach he found a long, fiat .stone 
with a hollow in one surfac^e, and in this the oil renniined very well, so 
that when he had put a lighted moss wick int.. it h<> saw that his house 
was lighted as well as he could wish. 

In the doorway he hung the bearskin to keep out the cold wiml which 
sometimes bad come iu and chiUe.l him during the night. In thrs way 



.",(IH TIIK KSKIMO AIIOl'T HKKIXG STRAIT Iitiians. 1« 

lie Iiv<-<1 lor many diiyn. until In- bf(,'an to feci loiu'ly. when lie lenieiu- 
lieri-d till- two yiMinj; men lie li:i<l seen when he sIcmmI uii the shore as 
an Owl. Then he thought. •• I saw two men pass here once, and it ran 
not l>e lar to when- others live. I will ;;o anil seek them, for it i« very 
lonely here." So he went out in search of jieople. He wandered alon;; 
the coast for .some distance, and at last came to two tine new kaiaks, 
l\in;; at the fo >t o( a hill, n|ion which were spears, lines, floats, and 
other linnlinK implements. 

After having examined the.se curiously he saw a path near liy, lead- 
in;.' up to the top of a hill, which he followed. On the to|> of the hill 
was a house with two storehouses in the vicinity, and on the fjrouud 
in front of him were several recently killed white whales, %vith the 
skulls of many others grouped around. Wisliin^j to see the i)e«ple 
in the hoii.so before sliowin;; him.self. he crept with noiseless .steps 
into the entrance way ami up to the door, l.iftint; cautiously one 
••orncr of the skin that huii;r in the doorway, he looked in. Opposite 
the door was a youn^' man sittin^i at work on some arrows, while a bow 
lay besiile him. ( 'hiifiiih'liik dropped the curtain and stood ipiite still 
lor .senile time, fearin;,' that if he entered the hou.se the youii;,' man would 
shoot him with the arrows Viefore he could make known his ;,'<K)d will. 
He ended by thinkiii;.'. •' If 1 enter and say, '1 have come, brother,' he 
will not hurt me," so, raisin;; the lurtain ipiiekly, he entered. The 
householder at once sei/e<l the bow and drew an arrow to the head ready 
to shiKit.Just as t'liufi-uh'-liik said. '• 1 have come, brother." At this the 
bow and arrow were droiijied ami the youn^' man cried out with delif^ht, 
".\re you my brother? Come and sit beside me." • And ("hufi uh'-liik 
did .so very ^dadly. Then the householder .showed his jdeasure and 
said, " I am very ^'lad to .see you, brother, for 1 always believed I had 
one somewheic, but I could never lind him. Where have you lived! 
Have you known any parents* Uow did you ;irow uii?" and asked 
many other (|uestions, to wliiili ("hun-uh -liik replied that he had never 
known his parents, anil described his life by the sea.shore until he had 
started on the present search. The householder then said that he also 
had never known any i»arents. and his earliest recollection was of find- 
ing' himself alone in that house, where he li.id lived ever since, killing 
game for food. 

Tcllin;; his lirother to follow him. the householder led (,'liufinh -Ink 
to one of the storeiiou.ses. where there was a great pile of rich furs, 
with an abundance of seal oil and other food. < >penin^' the door of the 
other slorohoiise, the newcomer was shown a great many dead people 
lying there. The householder said he had killed them in revenge for 
the death of his ]iarents, for he felt certain that they had been killed 
by these peojile, so he let no oue pass him alive. 

When they returned to the house, the brothers fell asle«i) and slept 
till morning. .\t daybreak they arose and, after breakfa.st, the house- 
holder told Chilli nil' Ink that as he had no bow and arrows, he slii.uld 



■I'lIE IiI.SCOXTKXTED OlfASS PI.AN'l 



5i)9 



stay at home and .-..ok i\n- then, l,.,th wl,il.. ho went ont hin.s.ir ,., um 
the game. Then he went away and eanie haek at ni-l,t. hvm-iiw- s..n.e 
reindeer meat. < hmVuh'-h.k had food rea.ly. an.l after eatinu' Ihov 
both went to bed and sh^pt soundly. In this manner ihev livd lor 
several days, until ChMn-nh'-lak l..-an to tire of eonkin- an.f of stavin- 
in the house. ' " 

One morniii.u lie asked perndss to -o out to hunt with his hrollier. 

but the latter refused and started out alone. S.»,n after, when he 
began to stalk some reimle.r. ChiiiViih' Ink came creeping softly behind 
and grasped him by the loot, so that without alarming the game his 
brother should know he was there. Turning, the hunter sai(i an-rily. 
"What do you mean by following me.' Von can not kill anyUiing 
without a bow and arrows." --l can kill ganu' with my hands alone," 
said Chiin-hh'-Iuk; but his brother spoke .scornfully, aiul said: "Co 
home, aud attend to your cooking." Chun-iih'-bik turned away, but 
instead of going h(une he crept up to a herd of reindeer and killed two 
of them with his hands, as he had (hme while living alom-. Then he 
stood up and waved his hands for his brother to come. The latter 
eame, and was very much astoidsluMi to see the two reindeer, for he 
had killed none with his arrows. Chufi-uh'-hik then lifted lioih of the 
reindeer upon his shoulders and carried them home. 

His brother followed with dark brow and evil thoughts in his heart, 
until jealousy aud auger replaced all the kindly feelings he had for 
Chufi-uh'-liik, and there was also a feeling of fear after having seen his 
brother manifest such great strength. During all the evening he sat 
silent and moody, scarcely tasting the tbod ])laced before him, until 
hnally his suspicions and evil thoughts began to i)roduce the sanu' 
feelings in (Jhi'in uh'-luk"s breast. Thus they sat through t\w night, 
each watching the other and fearing some treachery. 

The following day was calm and bright, and the householder asked 
Clu"in-uh'-luk if he could paddle a kaiak, to which the latter answered 
that lie thought he coidd. Then the householder led the way to the 
kaiaks upon the shore, into one of which he got, and telling Chun-uli'irik 
to follow him hi the other. At hrst Chun-fih'-luk had .some trouble in 
keeping his kaiak steady, but he soon learned to control it, and they 
paddled fa.r out to sea. When the shore was very distant they turned 
back, and the householder said: -Now, let us see who can gain the 
shore first." Lightly the kaiaks darted away, and lirst one, then the 
other, seemed to have the advantage, until at last, with a linal ellort, 
they ran ashore, aud the rivals sprang up the b.-ach at the same 
moment. AVith scowling brow the householder turned to Chun-i'ih'- 
liik and said: "You are no more my brother. You go in that direction 
and 1 will go in this," and they turned their backs to each other and 
separated ^ulgrily. As they went Chun-iih' hik changed into a 
Wolverine, his brother becoming a Cray Wolf, and until this day they 
are found wandering in the same country, but never together. 



f,10 TIIK KSKIMO AltofT ItKKlNG (-TBAIT Iittii.a.xx 16 

TItK I lUi: IIAI.I. 
I I'riiiii S1p<1i;«- i-l.tiiil i 

III tin- villii^e iif Kifi i' Ktiii iCiijie Priiic-e of Wales , very l<>ii>: api. 
tliiii- livifl it |M)ur orphan l>i>y who had no one to care lor liini ami was 
treatetl l>a«lly by everyone, beint; iiia<h' to run here anil there at the 
biililintr of the villa^'Pis. One evening lie was tolil to }{" "Ut <'t the 
kashiiii nnil see lio\v the weather was. He hail no skin boots, and bein;; 
winter, lie did not wish to po, but he was driven out. Very soon he 
eaiiie back anil said there was no clian(;e in the weather. Alter this 
the men kept sending: him out on the Haiiie errand until at last heeanie 
back and told them that he had seen a ;;reat ball of lire like the moon 
romiii;.' over the hill not far away. The people lau^heil at him and 

made liini ;; it atjain. when he saw that the lire had lome nearer 

until it was (|ulie ilose. Then the orphan ran inside telling what he 
had seen and hid himself because he was frightened. 

Soon alter this the peo|»le in the kasliim saw a (iery li^iure daneiii;.' on 
the ;,'iit skill coverint.' o\er the roof hole, and directly after a human 
skeleton came crawling,' into the room throiiKh the jiassageway, creep- 
ing on its knees and elbows. When it came into the room the skeleton 
made a nmtion towaid the jieople. causing all of them to fall uimhi their 
knees and elbows in the same position taken by the skeleton. Then 
turning about it crawled out as it had come, followed by the peoiile, 
who were forced to go alter it. Outside the skeleton crept away from 
the village, followed by all the men, and in a short time everyone of 
I hem was dead and the skeleton had vanished. Some of the villagers 
had been absent when the skeleton, or M(;i_<//)(iA-, came, and when they 
returned they found ilead people lying on the ground all about. Knter- 
ing the kasliim they found the orphan boy, who told them how the 
]>eople had been killed. After this they followed the tracks of the tun- 
(jhi'il; through the snow and were led up the side of the mountain until 
tiny came to a very ancient grave, where the tnicks ended. 

In a few days the brother of one of the men who had been killed 
went lishing upon the sea ice far from the village. He stayed late, and 
it became dark while he was still a long way from home. As he was 
walking along the tun<ih('ik suddenly appeared before him and began 
to cross back and forth in his jiatli. The young man tried to pass it 
and escape, but could not, as the tiiiiijluil; ke|>t in front of him, do what 
he might. .\s he could think of nothing else, he suddenly caught a 
lish out of his basket and threw it at the limiihi'iU. When he threw 
the lish it was frozen hard, but as it was thrown and came iiertr the 
liiiiiiliiik, it turned back suddenly, passing over the young man's shoul- 
ders, and fell into his basket again, where it began to llap about, having 
become alive. 

Then the lisherman pulled oil inieof hisdo;:skiu miltensand threw it. 
.\s it fell near the tuixjlti'tk the mitten changed into a dog. which ran 



.NELsoN-l THE FIUE HALL— ■rilK LANM) OK l)Al;KNESS 511 

growling and snarling- about tlie ai)paiirion, distracting its attention so 
tbat tbe young- man was ahlo to dart bv and run as fast as be coidd 
toward tbe village. Wbe.i be bad gone part of tbe wav be was a-ain 
stopped by tbe tuiujhal:. and at tbe same time a voiee fVom overbead 
said, "Untie bis feet: tbey are bound witb cord:'' hut be was too 
badly frigbteued to obey. He tben tbrew bis otber mitten, and it. too, 
cbanged into a dog, delaying tlie titnuluik as tlie first one bad done. 

Tbe young luau ran oft' as fast as be coubl, and fell exb:uisted near 
tbe kasbim door as tbe tuwihal; came up. Tlie latter passed very near 
witbout seeing bim and went into tbe lionse. but linding no one tliere, 
came out and weut away. Tbe young nuin tbeu got up and went boine, 
but did uot dare to tell bis motber wbat be bad seen. Tbe following 
day be went flsbiug again, and on bis way came to a man lying in 
tbe patb wbose face and bands were black. Wben be drew near, tbe 
black man told bim to get on bis back and close bis eyes. lie obeyed, 
and iu a sbort time was told to open bis eyes. Wben tbe young man did 
tbis be saw just before bim a luuise and near it a tiiu> young wonmn. Sbe 
spoke to bim, saying, -'Wby did you not do as I told you the otber night 
-when tbe tunyhi'd; pursued you ."" and be replied that he bad boeu 
afraid to do it. The woman tben gave bim a nmgic stone as an anndet 
to protect bim from tbe iunyliHt in tbe future, and tlie black man again 
took bim ou bis back, and wbeu be oiiened bis eyes he was at borne. 

After this the young man claimed to be a shaman, but he thought 
continually of the beautiful young woman be had seen, .so that he did 
uot have much power. At last his father said to bim, " You are no 
sbaniau: you will make me ashamed of you: go somewhere else." The 
next morning the young man left the village at daybreak, and was never 
beard of again. 

THE LAN]) OF DAKKNES.S 

(From Sleilge isiaiul) 

Very long ago there lived on Aziak (Sledge) island a man with his 
wife and little son. The husband loved bis wife very nuich, but was so 
jealous of her tbat frequently witbout cause he treated her very badly. 
After a time the wife became so unhappy tbat she preferred to die rather 
thau live witb bim longer. Going to her mother, who lived near by, 
sbe related all her troubles. Tbe old woman listened to tbe complaints 
and tben told her daughter to take a sealskin and rub it with the excre- 
ment of three ptarmigans and three foxes; then to liU a wooden dish 
with food and witb her child upon her back to go and nu-et her husband, 
and perhaps all might be well witb her. 

Doing as she was directed, she went down to the shore to meet her 
husband. Wben he came within hearing, however, be began to scold 
and abuse her as usual, telling her to go home at once and be would 
o-ive her a beating as soon as be got there. When the poor won.an 
beard tbis sbe rau to the edge of a low blnlT overhanging the sea, and 



',\'2 THE K8KIMO AltolT liKUlXc; STKAIT ,,ica>>.19 

a" )ii-r liiislciiiil ilri-w IiIh kaiak n|>uii tin- slime slic cast her xciilskiii into | 

tlit< wati-r ami Iim|i«-iI uftcr it. Ilcr liiiKbaiul saw tliis uitli alarm, aiitl 1 

nut i|iiii-kly (<> tin- to|> nf a hill tn set- what hail Ih'cdiiic of hi8 wife, lie 

saw hiT .-.iitiii^' ii|M)ii the cxleiiilisl seaUkin, which was siipiMirteil at 

cai'li i-iiriH-r liy a liladiler, Ihiatiiiu ra|iiill\' away iVoiii tiie sbun-. for when J 

till' wiimaii liM|i<-<| into the sea, the sealskin she threw in hail siiiliienly ^ 

openi'il out iin<l a float apjieareil at earli eorner. Thisi-au^ht her upon 

lis siirfiU T and held ln-r up safely. Very soon after she he^'an to lloat 

uuay a >torni arose and iii(;ht shut lier from her hiisltaiid's si;,'lit, and 

he went home seoldin;.' an^^rily. Idainiiig every one Imt himself for liiH 

lo'4K. 

On and on tloaled the woman, seated on the ma;;ic sealskin, and for 
seseial days no land i-oiild lie seen. She used all 1" t I'ood. but still 
she lloated on until it lieeame unbroken ni);ht. Afti-i a time she beeame 
.so exhausii'd that she tell a.sleep, and was awakened by several sharp 
shiR'ks and eould hear the waves breakiii}^ on a jiebbly shore. IJealiz- 
in;; this, she bej^an to try to save her.self; so she 8leppe<l from the .seal- 
skin and was greatly plea.sed to find herself standing <>ii :i beach made 
up of sm.ill rounded objects, into which her feet sank ankle deep at 
every ste|i. 

These round objects made her curious, so she stopped and picked up 
two handfids of them, jiuttin;; them in her foiKl dish, al'ter which she 
went slowly on into the deep blackness. Hetorc she had ;,'one far she 
came to a hon.sc, and, feeliii;; alon;; its side, found the entrance and 
went in. The passaK''way was dimly li;;hted by an oil lamp, showing 
nian> deerskins piled on one side, and on the other were jiieces of tiesh 
and ba;,'s of whale and seal oil. When she entered the house there 
were two oil lamps burnini;, one on each side of the room, but no one 
was at home. Over one of the lamps huuf; a piece of seal fat, and over 
the other a piece of reindeer fat, from which the oil dropped and fed 
the llames, and in one corner of the room was a deerskin lied. 

.She entered and sat tlown, waiting for what woidd come to her. At 
last Iheie was a noise in the entrance way, and a man .said. "I smell 
strange people." Then the man came into the room, frightening the 
woman very badly, for his face and hands were coal black. lie saiil 
nothing, but i-rossed the roomlo his bed, where, after stripping the 
upper pai't of his body, he took a tub of water and washed himself. 
The woman was relieved to see that his chest was as white as her 
own. While sitting here she saw a dish of some cooked llesli suddenly 
placed inside the door by an unseen jierson, from which the man helped 
his guest and then took his own meal. When they had done eating he 
asked her how she came tlieie, and she t4)ld him her story. He told 
her not to feel badly, and went out and brought in a number of deer 
skins, telling licr li> make cluthing from them for herself and her child, 
for she had kept her child safely u|ion her back all the time. NX'licn 
she tolil lijm that she had no needle, he brought her one of co]iper. 



"'■'""'' ■'■"'^ i^ANi) OF dai;km.:s^s 51 ;5 

wliich pWd iHT very .nuH,. (o,- until Ihn, si,. 1,;„1 „..v..r s..,m, muv lu.t 
bone needles. • 

For some time they live.l tl.us, until ut l.st tl>o n.an told l.er tluit as 
they were hvinj.- alone it would be better lor her to beeon.e his wile, to 
whieh she agreed. The husband then told her not to f;o outside the 
house, and they lived .(uietly tojjether. 

Wlule her little boy was pjayin- about one day, he cried out suddenly 
with delight, and when the woman h.oUed at him she saw that ho hvd 
spdled the things whieh she had j.ut in her dish when she stepped on 
the .shore. Examining them, she found they were large, hand.some 
blue Ijeads.' ' 

In time she gave birth to a line boy, oC which her hnsban.l was very 
fond, telling her to be very careful of him. lu this way they lived for 
.several years, and in time the boy slu^ had brought with her became a 
youth. I lis foster father made him a bow and arrows, ami when the boy 
had killed some birds with them he was allowed to accompany him wlieu 
hunting. One day the boy killed and brought home two hares, which, 
like all the animals and birds in this country, were coal black. They 
were skinned and left outside, and shortly after, freshly cooked and 
steandng, they were placed Just inside the door in a wooden dish, as was 
always done with their food. The woman noticed for the fust time that 
wlieu the dish was pushed inside the door it was held by two hands. 

This remained in her mind uidil she became .suspicious that her hus- 
band was not faithful to her. Finally he saw that something troubled 
her; he asked what it was, and she told him. Alter sitting and thinking 
for a short time he asked her if she did not wish to go bac^k to her 
friends, to winch she replied that there was no use in wishing for any- 
thing that she could not do. So he said, '-Well, listen to my story, I 
am from ITnalaklit, wheie 1 had a handsome wife whom I loved, but 
who had a very bad temper, which troubled me so mucli tliat I lost 
heart and was in despair, and from being a good and successful hunter 
I could no longer succeed. One day L was jiaddling in my kaiak far 
out at sea, filled with heavy thoughts, when a great storm broke upon 
nie and I was unable to return to the shore. The high wind forced my 
kaiak through the water so fiercely that at last I lost consciousness 
and renu^mbercd no more until I found my.self lying bruised and lame 
upon the shore where you, too, were cast. ]5eside nui was a dish of 
food, of which I ate, and feeling strengthened, I arose, thinking that 
the food must have been placed thei'e by some one. and started to 
.search f(U- the people, but could lind no one. While my wants were 
still supplied with food every time 1 becanu- hungry, the thick dark- 
ness hid everything from me; but I could lind no jieople, and when my 
eyes became accustomed to the unbroken darkness, .so that I coidd see 
a'little, I built this house and since then 1 have lived here, being cared 
for by the intin who, as you have seen, serves my food. This in ua usually 

1 BeacU or this kind iirc 8tiU highly prized by thu- Kaliiiiio of this .oast. 
IS ETH 33 



ft\i TMK KSKIMO AIUHT IIKRING STKAIT (rm.AJor.U 

takc^ till- form of a liki-(;c.ii-lly IlKli.aiiil altlioii(rli I m, liuntiii^ it is this 
tjriii;: tliat Hi-iuiri-s my ;;.imi' fur iiu'. I licraiiie acctistometl to the 
<larlviif-s altiM- a time. I>iit the evposiire t<i the eoiitiniial Ij'ackne8.s lia.H 
iiiaile my face and haiiils as you see. Hn<l that is the reason wliy I tohl 
viiu not to ^o oiitMiile." 

Il)-r husband then tohl lu-r to foMow him, and lie h'<| her into the 
eiitranrr way of tlie hlorer<K>m. wliich was full of furs, and then he 
(>|MMied a door into another room full of line furs of the rarest kimls. 
lie lin-n told her to take the ear tips from these skins and put them 
into her disii with the heads she had loun<l on the shore, and she did 
Ho. 'I'lii-n the man said."Vou wish to see your ohl home and I also 
wish to ser my Iriends. and wc will part. Take your boy uikjii your 
back, shut your eyes, and take four steps." .She did as he tohl her, aiul 
HO .soon as she had opened her eyes she was oblijjeil to elose them, 
for thi-y were da/./led by the bri;,'ht sunshine aljout her. When her 
eyes i)ei-ame used to the li;,'ht, slie looked about ami was preatly sur- 
prised to see her old home elose by. iSiie went at once to her mother's 
storehouse aiul ])laced in it her woodt-u dish contaiidu).; the beads and 
ear tips she had brou;,'ht with her. Then she entered the house and 
was received witli ;;reat joy. and the news of her return <|uickly spread 
thr(>u;.'h the village. N'l'rv soon her former husband came in and she 
saw with pity that his eyes were red and iiillamed from eoiistant 
weepiii;; for her. Il»' asked her to for;;ive him for being so harsh, and 
promise<l if she would return to liiiu as his wife that he woiihl always 
treat her kindly. When she had considered this for a long time she 
liiially consenteil, and for a time she lived happily wiili him. At length, 
however, his <ild habits returned and his wife itecaiue unhappy. 

Ller son iiecame a young man and his mother showed him the beads 
she had lu'ought from the land of darkness, aiul also a great ]>ile of 
rich (uis, for every ear tip she had brought back with her had now 
becoiiU' a fiillsi/c skin. These she gave to her .s(Ui and then went 
away and was never seen again by her people. Her son afterward 
lieeame a headman of the village from his siu-cess as a hunter and 
the wealih of furs and beads given him by his mother. 

illK KAVKN AM) TIIK MARMilT 
I A W(iiiiiiir» tali<, I'ruiii Niirtoii liiiy i 

Onee a Haven was liyiiig over a reef near the seashore, when he was 
seen by some .Sea birds that were perched on the rocks, and they began 
to revile him, crying. "Oh. you olVal eater! <>li, you carrion eater! < Hi. 
you blaik one!" until the Kavi-n turned and llew away. <'rying. •' '>h(iA-, 
f/iKil', i/iiiil:.' why do they revile nu-.'' .Vnd he llew far away across the 
great water until he came to a niounlain on the other side, where he 
Hlopped. 

Looking about lie saw Just in fruiil ol him a iiiai mot hole. 'I'lie Kaveii 
stood by the hole watching, and very soon the Marmot i-aine back 



™'"'"^ I^AVEX AND THK MAliMOT r,|5 

bringing hon.e so„,e food. When the Marm.-t saw the Raven in f.„nt 
o. h,. doc.r be asked I,in: to stand aside, but the Itaven .-elnsed. sal in!^ 
riiey c=alled me ..amo., eater, an.l I will sh„w that I a.n not, for i wdl 
eat yon. lo this the Marnmt answered. '-All right: hnt [ have heard 
that you are a very line daneer; now, if you will .lan.^e. I will siu-^ 
and then you can eat nu>, but I wish to see yon .lanee before I .lie""" 
Ihis pleased the Raven so nineh that he agnn-d to danee. so the Mar- 
mot sang, '■ ( )h, Raven, Raven. Raven, h..w well you dance ! Oh, Ita ven 
Kaven, Raven, how well you dance!"' Then thev st..|.|,ed to rest, an.l 
the Marm.^t saul, " I am very nnu;h pleased with vour dancing, and 
now I will smg once more, so shut your eyes and dance your best." 
The Raven closed his eyes and hoi)ped clumsily about while the Mar- 
mot sang, "Oh, Raven, Raven, Raven, what a graceful dancer! Oh, 
Kaven, Raven, Raven, what a fool you are ! " Then the Marmot, with a 
quick run, darted between the liaven's legs and was safe in his hole. 
As soon as the Marmot was safe he put out the tip of his nose aud 
laughed mockingly, saying, "C/(i-/,-;A--/.-/7,-, clii-Lik-hih; (■hi-hih--h;l..' You 
are the greatest fool I ever saw; what a- comical figure you made while 
dancing; I could hardly keep from laughing; and Just look at me: see 
how fat I am. Don't you wisll you could eat me '. " And he tormented 
the Raven until the latter Hew far away in a lage. 

THE SHAMAN IN I'lIE MOON 
{I'i'dMi Kotzeliiie soiinil i 

A Malemut sbamau from Kotzebue sound near Selawik lake told me 
that ;i great chief lives in the moon who is visited now and then by 
shamans, who always go to liim two at a time, as one man is ashamed 
to go alone. In the moon live all kinds of animals that are on the 
earth, and when any animal becomes scarce here the shamans go up to 
the chief in the moon ;iud, if he is jjleased with the ollerings that have 
been made to him, he gives them one of the animals that they wish for, 
and they bring it down to the earth and turn it loose, after which its 
kind becomes numerous again. 

The shaman who told me the foregoing said he had never been to the 
moon liimself, but he knew a shaman who had been there. He had 
been up only as high as the sky, and went ui> that high by Hying like 
a bird and found that the sky was a laml like the earth, only that the 
grass grew hanging downward anil was filled with snow. When the 
wind blows up there it rustles the grass stems, loosening i)articles of 
snow which fall down to the earth as a snowstorm. 

When he was up near the sky he saw a great many small, round 
l:ikes in the grass, and these shine at night to make the stars. The 
Malemut of Kotzelnie sound also say that the north wind is the breath 
of a giant, and when tlie snow falls it is because he is building himself 
a snow house and the particles are Hying from his snow shovel. The 
south wind is the breath of a woman living in the warm southland. 



:, Id THE ESKIMO AHOn MKUIXt! STKAIT [bth ask. 1« 

11 IK MAN WkU.M 

Iroiii Ki>t/ebii« Roiiiiil ' 

TliiTo iiiu variouH tali-s atiioii^ thi> KKkiino iilmif; the fast slion- of 
Ui'iiii;.'K»'a and tlic ailj.iciMit Arctic t-oast iii wliicli a Man wmiii li^'iircs, 
ami aiiioiin tliii tiiytliical beings illustrated in tliecliaiitei on inytliiilo(.'y 
will l>c round llKiires of eaiviugs rviireHcniiiiK tins being.] 

In very ancient days tlu-rc lived a hifKc Worm who was married to a 
woman, and they had a 84)11 who was also a Worm. NVhou the son wa« 
Inlly grown the father told him to go to the middle of the eartli ])laiii 
and there in a small lionse he wonhl liml a wife. The son then used 
his magic powers and made himself small, so that he couhl travel faster, 
ami iiiurney<'d awa> . When he came near the small lion>e of w Inch his 
father had told him, he felt the earth shake and tremble under his feet, 
and he feared th:it he would lie kille<l. This hai)|<ened several times, 
uiitd linally he reached the house. Mere lie found that the cause of the 
shaking of the earth was the talk of tin old woman who lived in the 
house with her daughter. These iteople received him hospitably, and 
finding that the girl was very beautiful, he married her. After he had 
lived there four years he remembered his jiarents and .stirted to go 
back to visit them, but on the road he was killed by another Man worm, 
who was a .shaman. In a short time after this the father felt a strong 
desire to see his son, so he started to go to him. On the way he found 
the body of his son, and looking about saw a large village clo.s« at hand, 
lie went to the spring where the villagers got their water, and making 
himself small, hid in it. whi'ie, by the use of magic, he killed nearly all 
the people in revenge for his son's death. When there were only a few 
jieople left, an old woman in the village, knowing that some magic was 
employed against them, worked a strong charm which caused the sea to 
rise anil break the ice upon its surface anil carried it over the land 
until the spring was covered: then the floating ice blocks were dashed 
togt'ther until the Man-worm was ground U> pieces and destroyed, so 
that the people were freed from his magic. 

MIGRATION I.Er.KNU 

|The following legend was obtained from an old man at Ikoginiit. on 
the lower Yukon. 1 had no opportunity of verilying any part ot' it, 
which was given as a statement of fact.] 

\'ery lung ago the llskimo lived far away fniin tiie Yukon, and were 
conlinnally moving from ]>lace to jdace; traveling from the far east to 
the west, .\fter long wanderings some of tlnni built a village on the 
bank of Yukon river. Just below where Ikogniut now stands, which 
increased in size until there were thirty-tive kasliims. The niinsof this 
village can be seen at the present time, with large pits where the 
kasliims stooil. 



" ""' MKiliATIOX I.E(;f.ND r, j 7 

F i.mlly the villagers qi.anel.d. fornio<l two ,.aiti.-s. an.l nia.l.. war 
against each other. The inhabitants „f the surr.nmdin- vilh.-e. had 
bated these pcoph. f.,r a h)n{r time on a.count of tlieir overbearing 
luannei. and when tliey began to .(..arrel anion- themselves the out" 
side people united to make war npon them. Tliese eneiuies were so 
powerlul that they were able to defeat the divided torees of the villagers 
in a battle, and those who survived became separated iuio three parties 
and dispersed. 

One i)arty stopped at the village of Kuslmnnk, near Capo Van- 
couver; another party went to Nuiiivak island, and another traveled 
on until it reachetl ISristol bay, and settled near where Nushagak now 
stands. The people on the great island of Kodiak, having lieard of 
the strangers near Xushagak, sent a war party across from the island 
to attack them, but the newcomers on l?ristol bay succeeded in almost 
exterininating them. Alter this the Aleut, on tlie island of I'miiiak. 
beard of the strangers, and of their having defeated the Kodiak men, 
so they sent out a war party against these ])eople. This time the Yukon 
men were defeated and lost half their number. Those who were left 
then Joined with some of their friends from Nunivak island and attacked 
the peojde living at Goodiiews bay, below the mouth of Kuskokwim 
river, killing them and burning their village. 

The victors then built themselves a village in the same locality, 
where they were living at the time the lUissians came to the country. 
'U'lieii the iiussians came the jieojile on <!oodiiews bay resisted them for 
some time, but finally they scattered, some going back to I'.ristol bay 
and others settling with their people on Nunivak island. Since then 
the descendants of these peo])le have gradually returned to Goodnews 
bay, where they are now living. During the last few years the jieople 
on llristol bay have been gradually working along the coast toward 
the month of the Kuskokwim. 

During the time of the migration from the Yukon all of these peojilo 
spoke one tongue, but having settled at three widely separated jilaces, 
their languages gradually became dilVereut, the jieople living at I'.ristol 
bay and on Nunivak island being nearest alike in speech. 

ORIGIN OF TIIK PEOPLE OF DIOMEDE ISLANDS, AND AT EAST CAPE. 
SIBERIA 

An old man from the Diomede islands told me that it was believed 
among his people that the tirst human beings v.-lio came to Big Diomede 
island were a man and a woman who came down from the sky and 
lived on the island a long time, but had no children. At last the man 
took some walrus ivory and carved five images of people. Then he 
took some wood and made live more images from it and i)nt all of them 
to one side. The next morning the ten dolls had become transformed 
into ten i)eople. Those coming from the ivory dolls were men, being 
bardy and brave, and those from the wood were women and were soft 
and timid. From these ten peoi>le came the inhabitants of the islands. 



5lH THK i:«KIMO ABOIT IlKKINli STKAIT • 'rTii.*,>. u 

An KHkiiiiK living; iit Must cai>i', Sibt-ria, tolil me that the lirst 
K->kiiiii> who livetl nil JCa.st c-ai>e were a iiiuii aiul a woman who caiuo 
tliere iM two kaiaks from St Lawrence ishiml. The kaiakK liinuHl tu 
stone wlieii the pair Iaii(le<l, and two peculiarly shaped KtoneH, one on 
each side of tlie cape, are pointetl out as beiiij; these kaiaks. From 
tliis pair ul' peopk- came all uf the Siberian lOskimo. 

Ill those days there were two kinds of |ieoiile ou ICiwt cape, who 
could iKit understand each other, but alter a time the other people 
went away ami only the ICskiino were left, as they are today. 



3477 

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